Former Georgia LB named as Falcons' next breakout player
Former Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Jalon Walker has been named as the Atlanta Falcons' breakout player for the 20266 NFL season in an early prediction from Pro Football Focus. Walker just finished a strong rookie season for Atlanta and should improve ahead of his second year in the NFL.
In 2025, Walker played in 15 games with Atlanta. He recorded 5 1/2 sacks and 36 tackles as a rookie. Walker started in nine games and helped Atlanta's defense improve significantly. However, it wasn't enough for the Falcons to make the playoffs.
In 2026, Walker will look to continue to improve his game. The pace of the NFL game should slow down a bit for him. PFF notes that Walker was surprisingly effective against the run and that's part of the reason why he's the Falcons' breakout player for 2026.
"Walker battled through some minor injuries to produce a 71.6 PFF overall grade as a rookie," Dalton Wasserman of PFF said. "He racked up 29 pressures, including six sacks. Perhaps the more surprising part is that his 81.3 PFF run-defense grade ranked sixth among qualified edge defenders."
Wasserman notes that Walker could "become a bona fide star" if he continues to improve as a pass rusher while remaining stout against the run. Walker and fellow Falcons' pass rusher James Pearce (26 tackles and 10 1/2 sacks) finally give the Falcons an intimidating pass rush. Atlanta will look to make the playoffs in 2026 under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Jalon Walker named as breakout player for Atlanta Falcons
