FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga — The Atlanta Falcons began rookie minicamp on Friday, providing Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., the team’s first-round picks in April's draft, their first taste of work in the NFL.
It's a flavor they found appealing.
"Just some work. Some good, successful hard work," Walker said after practice when asked what would qualify as a successful minicamp. "Making sure I'm acclimated. Making sure I'm ahead of schedule. Ahead of the ball. Ahead of the playbook and everything."
The Falcons spent the vast majority of the 2025 offseason adding to their defense, highlighted by selecting the two SEC pass rushers in the first round. Walker and Pearce represent the promise of a better future for a team that has long been seeking improvement in its pass rush.
But that primary goal can't be accomplished on Day 1, and adjusting to life in the NFL can present a learning curve for rookies.
"The expectations of it all is really just to get the guys acclimated to how we do things," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "Get these guys acclimated to the lift so next week, when they're with the vets, they don't slow them down when they're on their racks. Get these guys going on the grass, so they kind of feel the temperament of how we move around in practice."
It's only the beginning, but the Falcons believe both first-round rookies can become impact players early.
In his lone season as a starter for Georgia, Walker was a menace for offenses. He led the team with 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss while showcasing qualities that left those around him raving about his character. Pearce, meanwhile, was considered one of the most athletically gifted pass rushers in this draft, and his get-off is unmatched. He had 17.5 sacks for Tennessee over the last two seasons.
"Just be effective," Pearce said when asked about his Year 1 expectations. "I'm not going to put numbers on it or stuff like that. Everybody knows the sky's the limit, so I've just got to work. Whatever I get out of it, that's the work I put into it."
Join us as we go into the War Room for the Atlanta Falcons' picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
The rookies certainly won't have to go it alone. Atlanta signed veteran pass rusher Leonard Floyd this offseason, and he figures to take on a prominent role both in the meeting room and on the field. The Falcons will also get Bralen Trice back in the fold after the former third-round pick missed his rookie year due to a preseason injury. Those two alongside Arnold Ebiketie, who seemed to have unlocked something late in 2024, will be a nice trio to surround Walker and Pearce with.
Two second-year players, Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus, figure to have much more prominent roles than they did in Year 1, so it's likely Atlanta's defensive front will look drastically different than in prior seasons. That's not a bad thing for a team that has the fewest number of sacks since 2020.
"Normally I get beat up all year about not getting sacks, and that's got to change" Morris said. "And the only way you can change that is to change that."
During Friday's practice session, Walker and Pearce were largely seen working together. Walker afterwards noted they were playing their own outside backer position for the session. The versatility of each player's game is a large reason why Walker and Pearce are in Falcons uniforms, the staff may be getting a jump on tapping into that — or at least lessening the learning curve before the veterans join.
When the elder statesmen of the Falcons' edge room return to the field, they will find two rookies ready to go to work.
"It's competition everywhere," Walker said. "Of course, at Georgia, there's competition everywhere. At this level, it's most definitely competition everywhere. And I'm excited to work. I'm excited to have that competitiveness in the room and excited to meet all the guys on Monday."
