FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are a part of a somewhat uncommon membership.
This century, solely 10 different groups drafted two members for his or her defensive entrance in the identical first spherical. The Atlanta Falcons turned the eleventh crew to take action after they chosen Walker at No. 15 and Pearce at No. 26 earlier this 12 months. They joined the likes of Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith Jr. with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, Chandler Jones and Do not’a Hightower with the New England Patriots in 2012, B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews with the Inexperienced Bay Packers in 2009 and Shaun Ellis and John Abraham with the New York Jets in 2000.
“They’ve developed a relationship, which isn’t all the time given,” Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich mentioned. “Particularly guys that play the identical place, each first-round picks, as a result of generally there’s a degree of wholesome and generally a degree of unhealthy competitors amongst guys like that. However I really feel like they discovered that stability and so they actually complement one another in numerous actually cool methods.”
Walker and Pearce’s bond started to type the day after they had been drafted. Though Walker went to the College of Georgia and Pearce attended the College of Tennessee, each are initially from North Carolina. When the Falcons despatched their non-public airplane to scoop their first-round picks, the 2 met up within the Charlotte space beforehand.
As soon as they arrived on the Flowery Department follow facility, Walker and Pearce went by way of a automotive wash of obligations — from touring the constructing to assembly the workers to photograph alternatives, media availability, the works. Facet by aspect, Walker and Pearce had been collectively launched to their new life.
“Ever since we loaded up the jet and landed in Atlanta,” Pearce mentioned, “that is been my man.”
Stated Walker: “I really feel like we’re two suitable individuals. Individuals would possibly see us as polar opposites. However me and James actually get alongside.”
Look no additional than Weeks 9-10 when Walker and Pearce tag-teamed a strip sack and fumble restoration in back-to-back video games. In Week 9, it was Walker who knocked the ball unfastened from New England quarterback Drake Maye, and it was Pearce who recovered and superior the ball to the Patriots’ 6-yard line. In Week 10, Pearce swiped the ball out of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones’ hand and Walker was there to leap on it.
“He’ll be thunder in the future; I will be lightning in the future,” Pearce mentioned. “I will be thunder in the future; he’ll be lightning in the future.”
Walker appreciated the sound of that: “Thunder and lightning. There you go.”
Walker and Pearce are every firmly within the combine for the NFL’s 2025 Defensive Rookie of the 12 months award. They’re tied for many sacks amongst first-year gamers with 5 apiece as Week 14 video games method. Pearce’s 10 quarterback hits rank fourth; Walker’s seven tie for fifth. Pearce’s 31 pressures, in keeping with Subsequent Gen Stats, are second-most amongst rookies; Walker’s 20 are seventh.
The 2 fare even higher in Subsequent Gen Stats’ stress price. Pearce is impacting the quarterback on 14.7% of his rushers, which is the best price within the league amongst rookies with no less than 100 cross rush snaps. Walker is simply behind with an 11% stress price, which ranks fourth.
“For them to have the success they’ve had so early, it is thrilling as a result of they’re simply scratching the floor — each of them,” Ulbrich mentioned. “James is a man that is performed that place for the overwhelming majority of his life, and, clearly, he did it at Tennessee. The place ‘J Stroll,’ that is nonetheless new to him, being primarily at one spot like he’s.
“Each of them, they’ve a lot potential.”
The Falcons nonetheless have 5 video games left on their schedule, beginning with Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET contest in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Though the trail can be very troublesome, there’s nonetheless an opportunity Atlanta makes the playoffs.
Regardless, Walker and Pearce are in Atlanta for no less than one other three seasons. They will without end be referred to as the Falcons’ 2025 first-round draft picks. They’ve grown right into a dynamic duo.
“We’re brothers,” Walker mentioned. “On the finish of the day, we had been introduced in collectively and we’ll depart collectively.”
Stated Pearce: “Tales are wrote like this.”
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