FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Julio Jones is not the last Atlanta Falcon to wear No. 11. Quarterback Logan Woodside wore it in 2023, and quarterback Emory Jones wore it in 2024, but neither had the type of production to jeopardize the jersey’s association with Jones, a future Hall of Famer and the best wide receiver in team history.
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The man the Falcons hope will be the next impactful No. 11 took the field for the first time Friday as edge rusher Jalon Walker joined 40 other rookies and veteran tryout players for rookie minicamp.
“It’s an honor. I take it seriously as much as I can,” Walker said of wearing the famous number.
Walker, whom the Falcons picked at No. 15, has worn the number since high school, and the team is hoping he will have the type of career that will result in him one day being remembered alongside Jones at the mention of the jersey number.
“I hate to even talk about him this way, but when you talk to guys like that, you see future captain,” coach Raheem Morris said. “The team will decide that and he will decide that, but you see it in the makeup.”
The Falcons have high expectations not just for Walker but for their entire draft class, most notably the top four picks, which include Walker, edge James Pearce Jr. (pick No. 26), safety Xavier Watts (No. 96) and defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (No. 118). Atlanta believes all four players can be starters this season, assistant general manager Kyle Smith said.
“Make no mistake about it, we’re going to have some real intentionality about playing our rookies this season, getting them on the grass and giving them the opportunity to play a significant amount of football,” Morris said.
James Pearce Jr. (27) looks the part. pic.twitter.com/L0C6Q8h4M1
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) May 9, 2025
The rookies arrived at the team’s practice facility Thursday and held their only real practice of the rookie minicamp Friday, an hour-long workout that featured individual drills and seven-on-seven work. The young players will join the veterans next week for OTAs.
“This is really just to get the (the rookies) acclimated to how we do things so next week when they’re with the vets, they don’t slow them down,” Morris said.
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Most of the eyes Friday were on Walker and Pearce, who spent the day side by side in individual drill work.
“There are really no surprises, just glad that the draft process is over with and finally get to work with the team that drafted me,” Pearce said.
“I’m happy to work with James,” Walker said. “Can’t wait to see where our journey starts.”
Atlanta’s pass-rush problems have been well-chronicled, and Morris said Friday that the offseason emphasis was to get them fixed. The Falcons finished 31st in the league in sacks last season with 31.
“I get beat up all year about not getting sacks, and that’s got to change,” Morris said. “The only way you can change that is to change that. That was part of our process, very intentional, going out and trying to fix the edge room.”
The Falcons also added edge rusher Leonard Floyd during free agency and are expecting a fully healthy return for edge rusher Bralen Trice, last year’s third-round pick who missed the entire season because of a knee injury.
Atlanta’s five-person draft class was rated the league’s most valuable this year by Sharp Football Analysis, which used a formula comparing every player’s projection coming into the draft with their actual draft selection.
best value 2025 NFL draft classes
1. Falcons
2. Browns
3. Cardinals
4. Eagles
5. Giants
6. Chiefs
7. Buccaneers
8. Steelers
9. Ravens
10. Billssee pic for 1-32 plus methodology
READ FULL ANALYSIS:https://t.co/8eg8GcgC1i
team-by-team & round-by-round analysis to follow 🧵 pic.twitter.com/QNV3DZLe45
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 26, 2025
“We’re not just adding bodies. These are impactful players, every single one of them, that we have a clear vision for, and it worked out,” general manager Terry Fontenot said. “It doesn’t always work out like this, but they fit needs, whether you’re talking about the pressure players up front, and obviously, we know the versatility that we have there at the safety position, the nickel position. These are all needs for us, and it worked out that we’re able to draft impact players in those spots. It doesn’t always work out like that, but we’re very excited about that.”
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Watts could end up starting next to Jessie Bates III, while Bowman’s role could take time to develop. He is expected to compete for starting nickel snaps but said Friday that he’s training at safety as well.
“It’s just a good group of guys,” Watts said Friday. “I have talked to everybody, all just good people overall and we’re all good football players. Can’t wait to see what happens in the future, just excited to work with them.”
(Photo of Jalon Walker: Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)
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