The Falcoholic
Expectations are high that Jalon Walker and James Pearce will be featured a lot, but there could be obstacles blocking them from breakout seasons.
The Atlanta Falcons’ selection of a pass-rusher in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft should not have surprised anyone. However, their choice to double dip at the position did catch many off guard. The selection of Jalon Walker and trading up for James Pearce showed general manager Terry Fontenot’s commitment to upgrading an inept pass rush that has tallied a league-low sack total across his four seasons running the team.
Now that Fontenot and the front office have acquired the players, it’ll be on the team’s coaching staff to get the most out of them on the field. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has been open about how “intentional” he plans to be with the 2025 crop of defensive additions, including Walker and Pearce, in contrast to the 2024 draft class, where very few of their picks saw extended reps on the field.
But despite best-laid plans, will Morris and new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich be committed to getting the most out of Pearce and Walker this season by playing them as much as possible?
The Falcons finally have a fully stocked edge room, thanks not only to the newly arrived dynamic duo of Walker and Pearce, but also their cumulative additions over recent years. Past early-round draft selections of Arnold Ebiketie, Zach Harrison, and Bralen Trice are also being counted on to uplift the team’s pass rush. In addition, the Falcons’ most expensive free-agent addition was veteran pass-rusher Leonard Floyd.
While Pearce and Walker certainly carry the highest profile of that group due to their status as first-round picks, those other players are also here to get the quarterback on the ground. Given that rookie pass rushers don’t always impact immediately, the more experienced players could block Walker and Pearce from seeing the extended opportunities that this coaching staff intends them to have.
Expectations are sky-high for both Walker and Pearce, but as outlined earlier this offseason, a typical first-round pass rusher can expect to produce 5.2 sacks, 36 pressures, and a win rate of 11 percent in their first NFL seasons on average.
Those are far from bad numbers, but they may not match the contributions the Falcons could get from their veterans. For instance, Ebiketie is an ascending player coming off a 2024 season that saw him collect six sacks, 39 pressures, and a 12.5 win rate. If he takes another step as a pass-rusher, his production should exceed that of Walker and Pearce’s first-year projections.
Floyd is also coming off a solid season with the San Francisco 49ers, where he recorded 8.5 sacks and 44 pressures. However, his win rate of 8.4 percent is troubling and may signal that he’s on the decline. After all, the Falcons acquired veteran Matthew Judon last summer via trade, coming off an...
