The Carolina Panthers season is over, which means it’s officially mock draft time. While the team’s needs will change with free agency, it’s safe to assume the team will target the defensive side of the ball. Head coach Dave Canales and first-year General Manager Dan Morgan inherited a mess and knew they couldn’t fix every issue in one offseason. So, they focused on getting the most out of Bryce Young, and it worked. Now, it’s time to fix a defense that ranked at or near the bottom of every major statistic.
While one player alone cannot fix this mess, ESPN’s Mel Kiper believes the team will begin their rebuild with a proper heir to Luke Keuchly. In his latest mock draft, Kiper has the Carolina Panthers selecting Georgia’s Jalon Walker with the eighth overall pick.
Walker is veratile, and he can line up as a traditional off-ball linebacker or as an edge rusher. His game is all about speed-to-power, and no matter where you put him, he can get into the backfield to blow up plays. He had 6.5 sacks and seven tackles-for-loss this season, and he’d be a fit in Ejiro Evero’s unit.
Panthers Select Linebacker Jalon Walker In Latest Mock Draft
As Kiper mentioned above, Walker is a physically gifted linebacker who can line up all over the formation. Despite being just 20 years old, the Georgia product racked up an absurd amount of awards, including 2024 AP All-America Third Team, 2024 Walter Camp All-America Second Team, All-America First Team – AFCA (2024), and earned the 2024 Butkus Award Winner as the nation’s top linebacker.
While Walker is a great college football player, you don’t need to be an expert to know that college football dominance doesn’t always translate to the professional level. Fortunately, Walker’s film shows a player who should thrive in the NFL game. The young prospect routinely demonstrates an advanced ability to understand offensive play concepts and break on the ball early. Additionally, he’s equally strong against the run and the pass and should be a legitimate three-down player.
Jalon Walker is a coaches dream.
Pass-rush + linebacker versatility
20-years-old with limited experience btw… pic.twitter.com/GsKj3GqcIB
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) January 17, 2025
Is He The Right Choice?
The Carolina Panthers desperately need another linebacker, and Jalon Walker is one of the best in this mock draft. Additionally, he’s one of the more athletically gifted and versatile prospects available, and some believe he could be an adequate edge defender at the next level. No matter where he plays, he has the versatility and raw athletic potential to shine against elite competition. However, is that enough to justify a top-10 selection?
This selection will ultimately come down to the coaching staff’s ability to develop young talent. Based on upside alone, Walker could be the best linebacker in the class. However, as is common with younger prospects, he’s still raw and could use another year or two of experience. The Georgia product relies on pure athletic dominance to win as a pass rusher, which won’t work at the NFL level. He’ll need to develop some moves, and he’ll probably need more coverage reps to handle NFL-caliber running backs and tight ends.
In short, Jalon Walker is a high-risk, high-reward prospect. If the Panthers are set on him, they might be better off trading down, accumulating draft picks, and selecting him in the middle of the first round, rather than with a top-10 pick.
Main Photo: Geoff Burke – USA Today Sports
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