Well, it looks like the New York Jets might have a team interested in the No. 7 overall pick.
According to former 92.9 radio host and Atlanta Falcons insider Jeff Benedict, the Falcons have contacted the Jets, inquiring about the seventh overall pick, as Atlanta looks to secure Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker.
“I’m told Falcons have reached out to Jets to swap 7 and 15 as they eye Jalon Walker,” wrote Benedict. “FO [Front Office] wants to make a splash with pass rush and feel that Parsons is no longer attainable.”
He continued, “With Saints and Panthers both needing pass rush, Falcons want to beat them to Walker. If a trade happens, it’ll be a draft night situation and more than likely means they also give up 2026 first as well.”
Walker, 21, was a five-star prospect out of Salisbury High School in North Carolina before committing to Georgia, where he played all three of his collegiate seasons.
Over 43 games with the Bulldogs, he recorded 89 tackles (19 for loss) and totaled 12.5 sacks.
His standout campaign came in 2024 when he registered 60 tackles (11 for loss) and 6.5 sacks. The junior earned first-team All-America honors and captured the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
A dynamic and athletic defender, Walker brings value as both an edge rusher and off-ball linebacker. Last season, he split his snaps between the two roles, lining up off the ball 60% of the time and on the edge for the remaining 40%. At 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds, the North Carolina native ranks No. 11 overall on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board.
In this scenario, the Jets would swap first-round picks with Atlanta, falling to No. 15 in the order while acquiring their 2026 first-round pick.
Dropping eight spots in this year’s draft order to secure an additional first-rounder next year would be a strong move for New York, especially with the team likely to target a quarterback in next year’s class. The extra pick would give the Jets added flexibility to trade up or another chance to land a blue-chip prospect in 2026.
