Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sacks Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) in the first quarter of the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images John David Mercer-Imagn Images

NFL draft expert begs Panthers to pass on 'most overrated' Jalon Walker

Originally posted on Carolina Panthers on SI
By Zach Roberts | Last updated Apr 16, 2025 10:59 AM ET

The vast majority of mock drafts have the Carolina Panthers picking Jalon Walker eighth overall. He's a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher, but the Panthers have said they'd want him to primarily rush off the edge. If that's the case, NFL draft analyst Chris Simms believes the Panthers are making a huge mistake.

Walker is one of several players who has no clear position or can play multiple. Travis Hunter, Walker, and Jahdae Barron are other examples. NFL teams generally need players to be good at one position, though, and for the Panthers, that's clearly edge rusher.

Chris Simms calls Jalon Walker “the most overrated player in the draft”

I get not liking a player but to claim Jalon wasn’t “top notch” as Georgia is flat out comical. What an idiotic take but not shocking coming from Simms, he’s known for being wrong often. pic.twitter.com/fzXTsGnwxj
— Panthers 24/7 (@Panthers24_7) April 16, 2025

Simms ripped the Panthers for a move that they haven't even made yet, saying, "They need a guy that's going to be a pass rusher. They don't have anybody! Everybody's pegging them right now at number eight with Jalon Walker from Georgia, who I think is the most overrated player in the draft, for my money."

He added, "He's a guy that's 6'1", he's 240, and they're talking about he's going to play defensive end in the NFL? And he wasn't really that top-notch out of Georgia, and he wasn't that top-notch at middle linebacker, either."

It's safe to say Simms is not a fan of Walker, and he would think very little of any NFL franchise that took him that high in the draft. The Panthers, however, seem all-in on Walker. They're very open to trading down, but there's a good chance they don't and end up sticking with Walker at eighth overall.

This article first appeared on Carolina Panthers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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