FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Jalon Walker is by no means a one-trick pony.
The Atlanta Falcons, however, have decided the No. 15 overall draft pick will focus on one aspect of his game rather than immediately tapping into his versatility. That's why he has been placed solely in the edge rushers' room — for now. This decision was shared by defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, even before the three-day rookie minicamp last week when Walker made his practice debut in a Falcons uniform.
"On first and second down, I want, especially Jalon, to really have an opportunity to just master playing on the edge because I think that there's something there that's really special," Ulbrich said during the draft. "Give him an opportunity just to have one home initially and become as good as he can at that. Then, from a third-down perspective, we can get creative with him, and that'll be part of his superpower."
It's an interesting decision because Walker's versatility was a big reason the Falcons used their top draft pick to bring him in house. That trait was the first thing both head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot applauded at the end of Round 1.
"The kid's makeup, obviously, is unique (with) all the things he can do, all the places he can rush from," Morris said. "Obviously, he's an off-the-ball backer, he's an on-the-ball backer. … I mean, there's not a whole lot that he can't do."
Said Fontenot: "The way you can move him around and do a lot of different things. He can play stack, he can play off the edge, he can rush inside. He can do so many different things."
Ulbrich's decision, though, makes sense. There is a learning curve associated with any position, let alone one that embraces versatility. Starting off with one aspect of the role could make for an easier transition and allow Walker to focus on the area where he can be most beneficial for Atlanta's defense.