Why Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker should be Panthers' top option

The Carolina Panthers should strongly consider selecting Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker with the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and all signs point to him being the ideal fit. 

After fielding the NFL’s worst defense in 2024, Carolina desperately needs a dynamic outside linebacker to elevate Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 scheme. Walker, the 6-foot-1, 243-pound Butkus Award winner, brings versatility and production, which are two traits Carolina cannot afford to overlook.

Panthers general manager Dan Morgan recently revealed the team's vision for Walker as a true outside linebacker capable of playing multiple positions across the front seven.

“He can play on the outside, you can move him inside, you can do a lot of different things with him,” Morgan said at the pre-draft news conference. That versatility is what Carolina needs. 

The Panthers addressed the defensive line in free agency, but edge help remains their biggest need, especially with veterans Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum entering the final year of their contracts.

Walker’s ability to rush the passer is elite. His explosiveness off the edge and relentless motor make him a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. 

Carolina’s leading outside linebackers tallied a total of 9.5 sacks last season, putting too much pressure on an already struggling secondary. Walker’s disruptive nature and playmaking ability would immediately address that gap and provide a much-needed spark.

Beyond physical traits, Walker brings intangible qualities that head coach Dave Canales values highly. 

At the NFL owners meeting, Canales praised Walker’s leadership, calling him the emotional catalyst of Georgia’s defense. “He plays with his hair on fire,” Canales said via ESPN. “He pulls the whole group together, communicates, holds everyone accountable.” 

That kind of presence can help reshape a locker room and energize a young, rebuilding team like the Panthers.

Walker himself described his style as “passionate energy,” and his film backs it up. He can line up at four different positions in one series, showing off his football IQ and athletic range. That makes him more than just a pass rusher and a true chess piece for Evero to move around and build a defense around.

Whether Carolina stays at No. 8 or trades back, Walker is not only a scheme fit, but he’s a culture fit. He’s the best option for the Panthers, both for what he brings now and what he can become.