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Jalon Walker’s shocking NFL Scouting Combine weigh-in makes the position he’ll play in the NFL all the clearer

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ryan Roberts | Last updated Feb 27, 2025 6:51 PM ET

There has been a fascinating debate raging over the last couple of months involving Georgia defender Jalon Walker. The debate does not center much around his quality as a football player. Most agree that Walker is dynamic, allowing him to finish the 2024 season with 60 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

Most would also not question Walker being selected somewhere in the first round. He has become a mainstay in mock drafts across the space, and more often than not in the top half of that round. The debate centers around what position Walker ends up playing, whether that is at linebacker or as a pass rusher off of the edge. We may have gotten an answer to that question on Thursday at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine when Walker weighed in.

Georgia LB Jalon Walker Combine measurements

As an edge:
HT: 6010 (2nd percentile)
WT: 243 lbs. (6th percentile)
Arm: 32” (5th percentile)
Hand: 10 1/4" (79th percentile)

As an off-ball LB
HT: 6010 (30th)
WT: 243 lbs. (63rd)
Arm: 32” (37th)
Hand: 10 1/4" (90th)
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 27, 2025

Quite simply, there haven't been many EDGE defenders over the years who have been at this size profile. If he is successful as a full time player on the edge, Walker would be an outlier of all outliers. When you watch his film, his speed and explosiveness is evident. The issue is there are clearly limitations when trying to play outside of his frame.

Just how well can he translate against longer offensive tackles on the next level? That is a major question that will exist until Walker proves it otherwise. That is especially true considering a lot of pressure he created is coming from interior gaps at times.

Walker also played a lot on the second level for the Bulldogs, and made a ton of rangy plays as a true off ball linebacker. His size and length profile fits a lot better in that position. In that capacity, you are no longer betting on a size outlier.

In the world of sub packages, NFL teams are in base defense a very small portion of the time. That allows players like Walker to move all over the place, and create havoc from various spots. The best perspective for Walker's best case scenario is to be a full time linebacker who can rush off the edge in obvious passing situations. That versatility is the biggest sell.

When the 2025 NFL Draft officially begins, you shouldn't have to wait long until you hear Walker's name. The question is what position he is announced as, and which one his respective team deploys him at. After the measurements came out, the answer seems pretty simple.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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