Former Georgia Edge Rushers are Receiving High Praise in NFL Draft Circles
Real Georgia Fans Don’t Miss the Dawg Post Newsletter - Sign up now!
ATHENS - The former UGA Football players that are expected to be first round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft are receiving high praise from people around the league.
This is not uncommon, as Kirby Smart and his program have been producing high-level draft picks the last few years, including a handful of players that just helped the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl.
Todd McShay, an NFL Draft analyst for The Ringer and former NFL scout, has been breaking down film and talking to all of his sources in the league. That has resulted in him being quite complimentary of Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams- two of Georgia’s edge rushers that are projected to be first round picks.
LIMITED TIME: Get Dawg Post coverage for $1 RIGHT NOW
He most recently discussed Walker on his podcast and talked about how his sources around the league are extremely excited about him for more than just his skills on the field.
He said that one league source told him, “I don’t just get the tape, I get him in my building.”
Walker was one of the vocal leaders for Georgia’s team this past season, along with being one of the best players on the field. After the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame that ended the Dawgs’ season, Walker and offensive lineman Tate Ratledge were the two players that joined Smart at the podium for the postgame press conference.
Smart took a moment to reflect on Walker and Ratledge as leaders before the meeting wrapped up.
“I don't know who picked these guys to come, but they would have been the guys I picked, because when we do our captains, and rarely have I ever seen this where we did our captains, and two guys got more votes than anybody we've ever had,” Smart said.
The young linebacker was one of the handful of Georgia players left on the defense that made a contribution to one of the national championships the Dawgs won a few years ago. The 2024 defense featured plenty of older players, but Walker, a junior, was considered the lead man.
“I’ve got good sources close to that program. You want an alpha dog, you want the guy? He’s the alpha, and it is a thing to be the Georgia alpha,” McShay said.
Walker has made a few headlines this offseason. Former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock compared him to Micah Parsons, one of the best defensive players in the NFL.
Walker is considered the consensus second-best edge rusher prospect behind projected top-3 pick Abdul Carter from Penn State.
“Jalon Walker ain’t lasting long. I had one person say “What’s the bleeping difference between him and Abdul (Carter)? A couple inches?” McShay said.
McShay went on to say that he does not think Walker will fall outside of the top-10 picks in this upcoming draft, and could be taken as high as fourth overall.
Williams’ draft stock is slipping a little bit after running in the high 4.7 range in the 40-yard dash at Georgia’s Pro Day workout. That was the only drill he participated in that day.
He is 6’5” and about 265 lbs with very long arms. He is a prototypical defensive lineman for the NFL. McShay has harped on the production not being there, but the He said a few weeks ago in a message to league offices, “Bet on his traits.”
Williams dealt with injuries in 2023 and 2024. He got hurt in the season opener against Clemson and fought through an ankle injury for much of the season. He totaled five sacks on the year.
“Mykel Williams: body beautiful, clean as a whistle, wants to learn, loves the game, not as vocal as Jalon Walker but not a negative thing coming out of Athens or anywhere else,” McShay said. “Will he ever reach his full potential? Was it his ankle this past year that prevented him? That injury he suffered against Clemson that was kind of lingering across the season, or does he still have a lot of developing to do?”
The Georgia football program has had 63 players selected in the NFL Draft since Smart took over. Just this decade, 13 former Bulldogs have been selected in the first round. Walker almost certainly will be. The same can likely be said for Williams and defensive back Malaki Starks.