Let's keep the Georgia-Philadelphia pipeline going and grab another Phillydawg.

 

NFL Comparison: Nolan Smith

Overview

Some see Walker as a "tweener” while others view him as a "hybrid.” Either way, Walker can go. His career snap count is split between edge and linebacker, and his leadership is famous in the Georgia building. He’s still working to fine-tune his instincts and efficiency as an off-ball linebacker but has the take-on and closing burst to become a productive pro at that spot. He’s tough but small as an early down edge rusher, but his athletic talent and suddenness to attack both edges makes him a menace for tackles. The most valuable usage for Walker is likely to come as an early down linebacker who can rush off the edge or match up across the line as a blitzer on passing downs.

 

Strengths

• Hybrid talent who takes snaps as an off-ball linebacker and on the edge.
• Drifts downhill to meet blocks and constrict the run lane.
• Good length to stack blocks or punch and pass on the move.
• Twitched up with an elite closing burst to the football.
• Rush attack is highly athletic and very natural.
• Varies step cadence and entry angles, creating passivity from tackles.
• Slide-and-slap move inside creates sudden pocket heat.
• Strong hips drive through redirection blocks as a blitzer.

Weaknesses

• Below-average size as a full-time edge defender.
• Improved off the ball but still developing his instincts.
• Needs to prevent his play-side shoulder from being covered.
• Average bend limits his sink and flatten potential at the top.
• Gets mauled by size when his rush crowds too close to tackle.

So what’s you plan on drafting him? Part of your information says that some nfl scouts view him like parsons and worthy of a top 8 selection… while I see his draft ranking top 20 and above on most sites.. 

I mean I guess we can hope for him to fall like Q and Coop but then I might start thinking the NFL is rigged in the eagles favor 🙂 

32 minutes ago, Cheesteakitis said:

So what’s you plan on drafting him? Part of your information says that some nfl scouts view him like parsons and worthy of a top 8 selection… while I see his draft ranking top 20 and above on most sites.. 

I mean I guess we can hope for him to fall like Q and Coop but then I might start thinking the NFL is rigged in the eagles favor 🙂 

We are still in the pre-draft process, the top 8 line from "some scouts" is a throwaway line at this point. PFF has him ranked as the 52nd ranked player for example.

He will likely settle in the mid to late 1st round range, putting him in realistic trade up range.

With Nolan Smith as the other edge, I would worry about having two undersized players on each size, regardless of the talents.  Look at how Parsons himself wears down throughout the season (if we're going to make that comp).

https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2025/3/21/24391005/nfl-mock-draft-2025-eagles-7-round-simulation-georgia-jalon-walker-philadelphia-benjamin-morrison

On 2/18/2025 at 3:26 PM, Philthy Jawn said:

With Nolan Smith as the other edge, I would worry about having two undersized players on each size, regardless of the talents.  Look at how Parsons himself wears down throughout the season (if we're going to make that comp).

Was thinking the same, especially as it’s likely we keep Huff, and then Jalyx being 250lbs as well. And now we sign Azeez at 240lbs…

need to get a BG type big dude with some weight on him to balance out the group

19 hours ago, Aerolithe_Lion said:

Was thinking the same, especially as it’s likely we keep Huff, and then Jalyx being 250lbs as well. And now we sign Azeez at 240lbs…

need to get a BG type big dude with some weight on him to balance out the group

You can rotate a bit more with the light DE/OLBs and use a DT for the BG heavy role. When it comes down to it, BG might have been on the roster last year because he was a good football player… so they found a niche for him.

I can 100% see the Eagles wanting Walker...and...them liking him enough to trade up for him.  That said, Daniel Jeremiah has him ranked pretty high...has him as his 7th overall player and in his last mock draft had him going 5th.  So, unless he's WAY off, Walker will be out of our range.

On 3/24/2025 at 1:29 PM, EaglesAddict said:

I can 100% see the Eagles wanting Walker...and...them liking him enough to trade up for him.  That said, Daniel Jeremiah has him ranked pretty high...has him as his 7th overall player and in his last mock draft had him going 5th.  So, unless he's WAY off, Walker will be out of our range.

Unless Uncle Howie is cooking up a trade… One where he naturally fleeces a team.

14 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Unless Uncle Howie is cooking up a trade… One where he naturally fleeces a team.

Never count Howie out!  But unless Walker falls into the 20's, we'd have to give up way too much to move into the top half of round 1

9 hours ago, EaglesAddict said:

Never count Howie out!  But unless Walker falls into the 20's, we'd have to give up way too much to move into the top half of round 1

Oh I agree bud! I think it’s more likely he moves down than up? But with the draft ammo we have mostly in 2026? You just never know.

On 3/24/2025 at 9:29 AM, EaglesAddict said:

I can 100% see the Eagles wanting Walker...and...them liking him enough to trade up for him.  That said, Daniel Jeremiah has him ranked pretty high...has him as his 7th overall player and in his last mock draft had him going 5th.  So, unless he's WAY off, Walker will be out of our range.

Last year Mitchell was ranked 12th and DeJean 24th (by Daniel Jeremiah) (DraftTek: Mitchell 13, DeJean 18; PFF: DeJean 9, Mitchell 9).  We got them at 22 (without moving up) and 40.  Never know how these boards shake out ... there are always surprises.  Fortunately this is a very strong DL draft class so some of these players are likely to fall within target range.  I think Howie is much more likely to use some of the draft ammo he accumulated to move up a bit for a player we covet than we are to move back.  We'll see in 26 days.  

On 3/29/2025 at 7:04 AM, time2rock said:

Last year Mitchell was ranked 12th and DeJean 24th (by Daniel Jeremiah) (DraftTek: Mitchell 13, DeJean 18; PFF: DeJean 9, Mitchell 9).  We got them at 22 (without moving up) and 40.  Never know how these boards shake out ... there are always surprises.  Fortunately this is a very strong DL draft class so some of these players are likely to fall within target range.  I think Howie is much more likely to use some of the draft ammo he accumulated to move up a bit for a player we covet than we are to move back.  We'll see in 26 days.  

That’s an interesting take. So he’s more of an ILB due to his size but he’s going some time to fine tune his LB skills. So sounds a bit more like a project type player who will need time? 

3 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

That’s an interesting take. So he’s more of an ILB due to his size but he’s going some time to fine tune his LB skills. So sounds a bit more like a project type player who will need time? 

The comparison they make is Devin White - an LB that blitzes a lot. That worked early for TB, but fizzled a couple years in.

I prefer to deploy him like Nolan, where he’s mostly a pass rusher but has LB experience for the zone drops. Only issue is he’s a bit small to set the edge, Nolan was a beast against the run in college so less of a projection.

6 hours ago, Waiting4Someday said:

The comparison they make is Devin White - an LB that blitzes a lot. That worked early for TB, but fizzled a couple years in.

I prefer to deploy him like Nolan, where he’s mostly a pass rusher but has LB experience for the zone drops. Only issue is he’s a bit small to set the edge, Nolan was a beast against the run in college so less of a projection.

Funny that they wouldn't compare him more to Baun?  

54 minutes ago, time2rock said:

Funny that they wouldn't compare him more to Baun?  

Baun was a 2-4-5 OLB at Wisconsin, and the transition from edge to LB is so odd… but yes they are a very similar mold.

On 4/1/2025 at 7:24 AM, time2rock said:

Who’s Larry Krueger, any relation to Freddie?