The Carolina Panthers’ season has ended, which means it’s officially mock draft time. While the team’s requirements will shift with free agency, it’s safe to assume that the organization will prioritize the defensive side of the ball. Head coach Dave Canales and first-year General Manager Dan Morgan inherited a disaster and realized they couldn’t solve everything in one offseason. So they focused on getting the most out of Bryce Young, which worked. Now it’s time to improve a defense that ranks at or near the bottom in every key category.
While one player cannot cure this issue, ESPN’s Mel Kiper feels the team will begin its recovery with a worthy successor to Luke Keuchly.
In his most recent mock draft, Kiper has the Carolina Panthers selecting Georgia’s Jalon Walker with the eighth overall choice.
Walker is versatile, as he can play as a typical off-ball linebacker or an edge rusher. His game is all about speed-to-power, and no matter where you position him, he can go into the backfield and disrupt plays. He has 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss this season and would be a good fit for Ejiro Evero’s defense.
Panthers Select Linebacker Jalon Walker In Latest Mock Draft
Walker, as Kiper previously stated, is a physically gifted linebacker who can play anywhere in the formation. Despite being only 20 years old, the Georgia product has received numerous accolades, including 2024 AP All-America Third Team, 2024 Walter Camp All-America Second Team, All-America First Team – AFCA (2024), and the 2024 Butkus Award Winner as the nation’s greatest linebacker.
While Walker is an excellent college football player, you don’t have to be an expert to realize that college football dominance does not often transcend to the professional level. Fortunately, Walker’s film portrays a player who should succeed in the NFL. The young talent consistently exhibits an advanced understanding of offensive play ideas and breaks on the ball early.
He’s also equally powerful versus the run and the pass, making him a legitimate three-down player.
Is He The Right Choice?
The Carolina Panthers sorely need a linebacker, and Jalon Walker is one of the top prospects in this mock draft. Furthermore, he’s one of the more athletically gifted and versatile talents available, and some believe he’ll be an adequate edge defender at the pro level. No matter where he plays, he possesses the versatility and sheer athletic ability to stand out against top competition. However, is that sufficient to earn a top-10 ranking?
This decision will ultimately depend on the coaching staff’s ability to cultivate fresh talent. Walker has the potential to be the finest linebacker in the class. However, as is customary with young prospects, he is still inexperienced and could benefit from another year or two of development.
The Georgia product’s success as a pass rusher is based on pure athletic superiority, which will not work in the NFL. He’ll need to work on some moves, and he’ll also need more coverage practice to handle NFL-caliber running backs and tight ends.
In short, Jalon Walker represents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity. If the Panthers are determined on him, it may be wiser to trade down, accumulate draft picks, and choose him in the middle of the first round rather than with a top-10 pick.
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