Jalon Walker - Mr. Versatile

[bakes781]

The recent hype reporting the Pats interest in this guy made me feel he warranted his own thread. Only 21 but only 6-1

Is he a LB is he a EDGE rusher? Not much production until his last season.


My favorite twitter account lol

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I haven’t watched a lot of film like you guys, and don’t have a good scouting eye anyway to catch many of the finer details. Hybrid guys like him always carry risk, but when you see the ones that succeed like Micah Parsons, they’re game-changers. Kind of like tight ends, where most are poorer blockers than offensive tackles, and slower and poorer catchers than wide receivers, so most look like Michael Hoomanawanui. But when someone can actually block like an elite OT and catch like a big WR, they look like Gronk and are total game-changers.

So the questions — does he have elite ability as a pure middle linebacker? What about as an edge player? I know Todd NcShay seems to like him and claims to have spoken to NFL people who answer yes to both questions. But frankly I trust you guys a heck of a lot more than most draft prognosticators out there. But my view is, if the answer to those questions are yes, then we should take him at 4 in a heartbeat.

 

[Huckleberry1]

No. He should go in the 20’s.

 

[Sect140]

There has been talk on him moving up but my fear is he was only a starter for one year, I know it’s Georgia but still only started one year.

 

[manxman2601]

Remember when Mike Mayock said Chandler Jones would be the best defensive player in his draft. Well that was a pretty epic defensive draft with Hightower, Kuechly, Fletcher Cox, Gilmore, Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David and Dontari Poe amongst others but Mayock certainly nailed Chandler Jones' upside.

So here's Mike Mayock saying that he has a higher grade on Walker than he does on Abdul Carter and comparing him to Micah Parsons.



If we draft Walker at 4, I think Vrabel is looking to recreate the Eagles defense in part. Walker, Landry, Chaisson, White, Barmore, Williams. Pick 4 from that on every down.

Edit: I forgot such defensive luminaries such as Tavon Wilson and Jake Bequette in that 2012 draft . The good ole days of BB - an unknown 2nd round safety.

 

[manxman2601]

I freely admit that when it comes to the draft I lean conservative - I am fairly cautious. I like the idea of the Walker pick and if Mayock is right it's a slam dunk for the pick at 4. however it does kinda mess the rest of the draft up.

1. It means your probably committed to trading up for the LT unless you're prepared to compromise there with an Ersery pick.

2. It leaves you very open to a 2nd round run on WR. We could be almost wiped out by the time we pick in the third and with less ammunition to trade up unless your prepared to compromise the draft even further.

3. You're probably sacrificing a high round RB like Henderson or Sampson as well as a quality interior OL.

I can get behind the upside of a Walker pick, but I see a route to a better complete draft with a Campbell / Membou pick. Pick your poison.

 

[imahobgoblin]

I think its funny people reject Will Campbell for short arms but then want an edge at 6'1, 243 lbs with 32 inch arms.

 

[manxman2601]

I think its funny people reject Will Campbell for short arms but then want an edge at 6'1, 243 lbs with 32 inch arms.

That is amusing isn't it?

In fairness though, I don't think Walker is a full-time edge. He's a front 7 Swiss-army knife that needs to be used aggressively as a blitzer, an edge rusher and a super athletic spy.

 

[imahobgoblin]

That is amusing isn't it?

In fairness though, I don't think Walker is a full-time edge. He's a front 7 Swiss-army knife that needs to be used aggressively as a blitzer, an edge rusher and a super athletic spy.

I think he is so raw that it is too tough to tell what he is right now. If I had to guess, he would start the first few years and a situational pass rusher with the hope of growing unto a complete and versatile player.

 

[manxman2601]

I think he is so raw that it is too tough to tell what he is right now. If I had to guess, he would start the first few years and a situational pass rusher with the hope of growing unto a complete and versatile player.

There are enough people I like, like Mayock, Jeremiah and Brugler, that grade him so highly that I think he's worth consideration. Vrabel and Williams will need to have a plan for him to justify the pick though.

 

[dliverey44]

I freely admit that when it comes to the draft I lean conservative - I am fairly cautious. I like the idea of the Walker pick and if Mayock is right it's a slam dunk for the pick at 4. however it does kinda mess the rest of the draft up.

1. It means your probably committed to trading up for the LT unless you're prepared to compromise there with an Ersery pick.

2. It leaves you very open to a 2nd round run on WR. We could be almost wiped out by the time we pick in the third and with less ammunition to trade up unless your prepared to compromise the draft even further.

3. You're probably sacrificing a high round RB like Henderson or Sampson as well as a quality interior OL.

I can get behind the upside of a Walker pick, but I see a route to a better complete draft with a Campbell / Membou pick. Pick your poison.

I like Walker and have him in the same tier as Carter. They are both 1st time edge rushers because they were mostly off ball last year. I would prefer they go Campbell or Membou as well.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

i wouldn't be mad if they select walker at 4 if carter and hunter are gone and no team is willing to trade up,

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I freely admit that when it comes to the draft I lean conservative - I am fairly cautious. I like the idea of the Walker pick and if Mayock is right it's a slam dunk for the pick at 4. however it does kinda mess the rest of the draft up.

1. It means your probably committed to trading up for the LT unless you're prepared to compromise there with an Ersery pick.

2. It leaves you very open to a 2nd round run on WR. We could be almost wiped out by the time we pick in the third and with less ammunition to trade up unless your prepared to compromise the draft even further.

3. You're probably sacrificing a high round RB like Henderson or Sampson as well as a quality interior OL.

I can get behind the upside of a Walker pick, but I see a route to a better complete draft with a Campbell / Membou pick. Pick your poison.

Couldn’t you say the same thing regarding a complete draft if Carter fell to 4, though?

Not to derail the thread, but while I recognize the pickings were really thin in free agency, but I really hate that we’re boxed into needing to draft a LT. Especially in a year where there are more prospects with questions than usual. The dire need for a LT really throws a monkey wrench in everything. At least they did enough at WR that the room might be passable as is without being forced to draft anyone.

 

[manxman2601]

Couldn’t you say the same thing regarding a complete draft if Carter fell to 4, though?

Not to derail the thread, but while I recognize the pickings were really thin in free agency, but I really hate that we’re boxed into needing to draft a LT. Especially in a year where there are more prospects with questions than usual. The dire need for a LT really throws a monkey wrench in everything. At least they did enough at WR that the room might be passable as is without being forced to draft anyone.

It does apply to Carter which is why I became more relaxed about the idea of trading out if Carter was on the board. I'd be fine with taking Carter or Walker, it does seem like the team view EDGE as a need still, but it does make the rest of the draft more difficult, particularly at WR if there's a 2nd round run.

It's a case of picking your priorities. Maximise the reward at pick 4 while having the rest of your selections made more difficult or, filling the biggest need at 4, having a smoother draft overall but compromising at pass rusher. I lean towards the latter because I think you can still find decent pass rushers later but if Walker or Carter are potential Micah Parsons, it's hard to ignore that.

 

[bakes781]

Couldn’t you say the same thing regarding a complete draft if Carter fell to 4, though?

Not to derail the thread, but while I recognize the pickings were really thin in free agency, but I really hate that we’re boxed into needing to draft a LT. Especially in a year where there are more prospects with questions than usual. The dire need for a LT really throws a monkey wrench in everything. At least they did enough at WR that the room might be passable as is without being forced to draft anyone.

I'm with you WR is no longer a pressing need IMO. If the talent warrants consideration at 38 than I won't pass on a Tre Harris but I'm banking on the theory that the value in the 3rd isn't too much of a drop off with Royals, Kyle Williams or Savion Williams.

 

[Love The Drake]

I'm with you WR is no longer a pressing need IMO. If the talent warrants consideration at 38 than I won't pass on a Tre Harris but I'm banking on the theory that the value in the 3rd isn't too much of a drop off with Royals, Kyle Williams or Savion Williams.

Tai Felton Royal

 

[BobDigital]

I don't like the idea of taking such a big risk with the 4th pick. If we pick him it needs to be after a trade down, or a trade up from the 2nd round.

 

[manxman2601]

I wonder if the Pats send anyone significant. Ironically, if they don’t I think it more likely they pick Walker because it would tell me they’re comfortable with their grade on him.

 

[manxman2601]

I think Will Campbell will be the pick and I'm fine with that but in the back of my mind is Mike Vrabel repeatedly talking about disrupting the QB and his recruitment of a much more aggressive defense and I just have this niggling feeling in the back of my mind that Vrabel continues to build up the defense to make it into a dominating unit. The one thing I don't think is that Walker is a full-time edge, more a hybrid of Hightower and Jamie Collins.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

I think Will Campbell will be the pick and I'm fine with that but in the back of my mind is Mike Vrabel repeatedly talking about disrupting the QB and his recruitment of a much more aggressive defense and I just have this niggling feeling in the back of my mind that Vrabel continues to build up the defense to make it into a dominating unit. The one thing I don't think is that Walker is a full-time edge, more a hybrid of Hightower and Jamie Collins.

You know my feelings, I would love javon walker and would run up the podium to select him if you have to select him. He plays violent and fast which is I believe Vrabel is looking for.