Players such as Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are versatile and can disrupt the quarterback on every down. Walker views himself as an alpha already on defense and will make an immediate/impactful presence there. He has already drawn comparisons to Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys.

Jax Ulbrich, the son of the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive coordinator, found Shedeur Sanders’ phone number on his father’s iPad. The smart tablet was unlocked and open, and he wrote down the number.

ATLANTA -- The 2025 NFL draft (8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) began Thursday and is being held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Atlanta Falcons bolster their defense in Round 1 with Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker at No. 15, then traded with the Rams to land James Pearce Jr. at No. 26.