The Falcons made big investments in their pass rush, and Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot were predictably excited about them.
Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot may have gotten some incredulous texts from around the league last night after trading back into the first round for James Pearce Jr., but the mood in their press conference was pretty buoyant. And why not? The team had gotten two players they clearly loved, bolstering a pass rush that hasn’t been good in a long time.
Here’s what the head coach and general manager had to say about their day one draft haul.
On Jalon Walker
The team clearly was taking calls for the 15th pick, but decided Walker was better than any of the offers on the table. Fontenot alluded to the team’s delight at finding Walker on the board, later than I think most expected him to go.
Falcons GM Terry Fontenot on whether they fielded calls at 15:
“We were excited to get Jalon. We had conviction & belief in Jalon. So, when he’s there at 15 – again, we always make those calls. We’re just doing our due diligence, but we’re taking Jalon.”https://t.co/A8b4x6e0GU
— Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) April 25, 2025
Fontenot had particularly high praise for Walker’s character, and the Falcons just so happen to need a genuine good guy leader with Grady Jarrett now on the Bears.
Fontenot gives Jalon Walker a very high complement: That’s what you want your son to grow up to be like.” https://t.co/xdHK7yrYLP
— Will McFadden (@willmcfadden) April 25, 2025
Fontenot also spoke about the versatility the Falcons like with Walker, mentioning that he can rush the passer from multiple spots and will likely be asked to play more than one role for Atlanta. Some knocked Walker as a “tweener” coming into the pros, but the Falcons view his ability to play more than one role as a positive. Raheem Morris said as much.
Raheem Morris talks Jalon Walker, said he fell in love with Walker’s character:
“Kid’s makeup is unique — all the things he can do, places he can rush from. There’s not a whole lot he can’t do.”
— Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) April 25, 2025
Teams talk about wanting unique players and chess pieces they can move around, but few teams actually maximize the skillsets of player who can do a bunch of things really well. We’re about to find out if the Falcons can with Walker, but they clearly love the idea of having him wreak havoc in novel ways.
On James Pearce Jr.
Pearce is a more straightforward addition. A hyper-athletic edge rusher, Pearce was dogged by questions about his run defense and consistency of effort on the field, the latter being something the Falcons said they checked into thoroughly before making the pick.
Fontenot made it clear that the explosive pass rushing production and potential, if not results, as a run defender fueled the team’s decision.
“Even if you don’t watch tape, look at the numbers,” Fontenot said. “Highest pressure rate in football. That’s great, and it’s been consistent in two years. This is a productive player. He can get off the ball. He’s explosive. He’s sudden. He’s twitchy. He plays with violence. And so, whether it’s in the run game or the pass game, he’s disruptive.”
That really sums up the rationale for the Falcons, who just had to feel good about Pearce’s motivation and ability. Pearce has the potential to be the most productive Falcons pass rusher since peak Vic Beasley—and hopefully will surpass him over the course of his career. It’s difficult not to be excited about what he can do in Atlanta, as Morris and Fontenot clearly are.