Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi had the New England Patriots making a surprise selection for the fourth overall pick in his latest 2025 NFL mock draft.
Most have projected Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, Will Campbell, Tetairoa McMillan or Armand Membou to go to the Patriots at No. 4. However, Giardi has the Patriots taking Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker with the pick.
Walker played in 14 games for the Bulldogs last year, recording 60 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, two pass deflections and 6.5 sacks. He was part of the 2022 Georgia team that won the national championship.
Giardi wrote why he feels Walker would be a good fit for New England:
“You didn’t see this coming, did you? Walker may be the best player in the draft (not named Hunter or Carter), and he has a lot of fans at One Patriot Place. Nothing the Pats did on the defensive side of the ball and free agency would prevent Vrabel and Co. from tapping the 21 year-old with his combination of athleticism, surprising power in his 245-pound frame, and the highest football character (Georgia staff LOVES him). Is he an edge? An off-ball linebacker? He split reps for the Bulldogs, but the more I’ve watched his tape, the more I foresee him on the outside for the Pats.”
Walker would be a surprising selection for the Patriots this high up on the board. He hasn’t been extensively mentioned in mock drafts throughout the offseason.
Even still, he would fill a need for the team by giving them a dynamic pass-rusher to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Some might consider it a reach with the No. 4 pick, but it would be fun seeing a playmaker like Walker plugged into Mike Vrabel’s defense.
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