The Seattle Seahawks own the No. 18 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. General manager John Schneider must identify the perfect prospect fit with that pick, selecting a player who can help improve the Seahawks instantly after the team fell slightly short of qualifying for the 2024 postseason.
Pro Football Focus recently released an article identifying one ideal prospect fit for each franchise. Many may expect that to be an offensive lineman for the Seahawks, but PFF actually went in a different direction. Jalon Walker, Georgia pass rusher, was their choice.
Patriots: Will Campbell
Jets: ?The perfect draft prospect for all 32 teamshttps://t.co/fPbIerVdoL
— PFF (@PFF) January 17, 2025
“The 2024 Seahawks had a major need for a playmaker in the middle of their defense, so much so that they went out and traded for Ernest Jones in October,” Jordan Plocher and Josh Liskiewitz wrote. “Jones started immediately upon arrival, played in their last 10 games and led all Seahawks linebackers in snaps played.”
Walker is an interesting choice for the Seahawks. He played a versatile role for the Bulldogs this season, aligning as both an off-ball linebacker and traditional pass rusher. He wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement for Jones in that regard, but he would fill a void for another playmaker in the front seven should Jones depart in free agency.
“In 2024, Jalon Walker played 249 snaps on the line of scrimmage, 311 as a second-level box defender and 61 as a second-level overhang defender,” PFF continued. “Walker is an athletic and versatile linebacker who can play a traditional off-the-ball inside linebacker role as well as outside linebacker/edge rusher that can give the Seahawks not only the piece they need in the middle of their defense but also giving them scheme flexibility with the ability to either walk him down to the edge or line him up there intentionally.”
Walker accumulated a career-high 61 tackles in 2024. The versatile front-seven defender added 6.5 sacks to his defensiev tot