The Falcons' pair of rookie pass rushers are having strong first seasons.

Terrin Waack

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are part of a rather rare club.

This century, only 10 other teams drafted two members for their defensive front in the same first round. The Atlanta Falcons became the 11th team to do so when they selectedWalker at No. 15andPearce at No. 26earlier this year. They joined the likes of Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith Jr. with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, Chandler Jones and Don't'a Hightower with the New England Patriots in 2012, B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews with the Green Bay Packers in 2009 and Shaun Ellis and John Abraham with the New York Jets in 2000.

"They've developed a relationship, which is not always given," Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. "Especially guys that play the same position, both first-round picks, because sometimes there is a level of healthy and sometimes a level of unhealthy competition amongst guys like that. But I feel like they found that balance and they really complement each other in a lot of really cool ways."

Walker and Pearce's bond began to form the day after they were drafted. Although Walker went to the University of Georgia and Pearce attended the University of Tennessee, both are originally from North Carolina. When the Falcons sent their private plane to scoop their first-round picks, the two met up in the Charlotte area beforehand.

Once they arrived at the Flowery Branch practice facility, Walker and Pearce went through a car wash of obligations from touring the building to meeting the staff to photo opportunities, media availability, the works. Side by side, Walker and Pearce were collectively introduced to their new life.

"Ever since we loaded up the jet and landed in Atlanta," Pearce said, "that's been my guy."

Said Walker: "I feel like we're two compatible people. People might see us as polar opposites. But me and James really get along."

On and off the field.

Look no further than Weeks 9-10 when Walker and Pearce tag-teamed a strip sack and fumble recovery in back-to-back games. In Week 9, it was Walker who knocked the ball loose from New England quarterback Drake Maye, and it was Pearce who recovered and advanced the ball to the Patriots' 6-yard line. In Week 10, Pearce swiped the ball out of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones' hand and Walker was there to jump on it.

"He'll be thunder one day; I'll be lightning one day," Pearce said. "I'll be thunder one day; he'll be lightning one day."

Walker liked the sound of that: "Thunder and lightning. There you go."

Walker and Pearce are each firmly in the mix for the NFL's 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. They're tied for most sacks among first-year players with five apiece as Week 14 games approach. Pearce's 10 quarterback hits rank fourth; Walker's seven tie for fifth. Pearce's 31 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats, are second-most among rookies; Walker's 20 are seventh.

The two fare even better in Next Gen Stats' pressure rate. Pearce is impacting the quarterback on 14.7% of his rushers, which is the highest rate in the league among rookies with at least 100 pass rush snaps. Walker is just behind with an 11% pressure rate, which ranks fourth.

"For them to have the success they've had so early, it's exciting because they're just scratching the surface both of them," Ulbrich said. "James is a guy that's played that position for the vast majority of his life, and, obviously, he did it at Tennessee. Where 'J Walk,' this is still new to him, being primarily at one spot like he is.

"Both of them, they have so much potential."

The Falcons still have five games left on their schedule, starting with Sunday's 1 p.m. ET contest against the Seattle Seahawks inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Although the path would be very difficult,theres still a chance Atlanta makes the playoffs.

Regardless, Walker and Pearce are in Atlanta for at least another three seasons. They'll forever be known as the Falcons' 2025 first-round draft picks. They've grown into a dynamic duo.

"We're brothers," Walker said. "At the end of the day, we were brought in together and we'll leave together."

Said Pearce: "Stories are wrote like this."

Up Next

Videos

Jessie Bates III & Marquice Williams on Sunday's matchup against the Seahawks | Press Conference

Videos

A.J. Terrell Jr. is the 2025 Atlanta Falcons Walter Payton Man of the Year

Videos

Darnell Mooney & others on the Falcons preparation to take on the Seahawks | Press Conference

Videos

Quarterback Kirk Cousins Week 14 Media Availability | Monday, December 3rd | Press Conference

Videos

Head Coach Raheem Morris Week 14 Media Availability | Wednesday, December 3rd | Press Conference

Videos

Ruke Orhorhoro is micd up against the New York Jets

Videos

Breaking down the monster matchup between A.J. Terrell Jr. & Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Film Review

Videos

Head Coach Raheem Morris Week 14 Media Availability | Monday, December 1st | Press Conference

Videos

Ruke Orhorhoro & JD Bertrand reflect on the Falcons loss to the Jets

Videos

Kaden Elliss & others on the Atlanta Falcons loss to the New York Jets | Press Conference

Videos

Kirk Cousins reflects on Atlanta Falcons road matchup vs New York Jets| Press Conference

Videos

Raheem Morris on Atlanta Falcons performance vs New York Jets | Press Conference

Videos

Bijan Robinson's best plays from 193-yard game vs. Jets Week 13

Videos

Falcons at Jets | NFL+ Highlights

Videos

Tyler Allgeier left all alone on 31-yard catch and run

Videos

David Sills V's second TD catch in as many weeks gives Falcons the lead vs. Jets

Videos

Zane Gonzalez 52-yard FG recaptures Falcons lead entering fourth quarter

Videos

Kyle Pitts showcases his speed on 24-yard catch

Videos

Bijan Robinson is elusive on 5-yard TD run

Videos

Bijan Robinson races into Jets territory on 42-yard catch and run

Videos

Tyler Allgeier's eighth TD run of 2025 trims Jets' lead to 7-6 in second quarter

Videos

Leonard Floyd wraps up Tyrod Taylor for Falcons sack

Videos

Bijan Robinson enters cutback lane for 26-yard gain vs. Jets

Videos

Cousins' 19-yard pass locates Deven Thompkins as WR approaches sideline

Videos

The Falcons' offense, getting pressure with 4, & what would success look like vs Jets? | Friday Five

Videos

Zac Robinson, Jeff Ulbrich & others on preparing for the New York Jets

Videos

Quarterback Kirk Cousins Week 13 Media Availability | Wednesday, November 26th | Press Conference

Videos

Raheem Morris looks ahead to Atlanta Falcons matchup vs New York Jets | Press Conference

Videos

Falcons win rivalry game on the road against the Saints | A Mini Movie

Videos

It feels GREAT to win! How the Falcons did it & why we think they can do it again | Falcons Audible

Videos

Kirk Cousins puts his veteran prowess on display in win over Saints | Film Review

Videos

Raheem Morris breaks down Atlanta Falcons win over New Orleans Saints | Press Conference

Videos

James Pearce Jr. & Zane Gonzalez reflect on the win against the Saints

Videos

A.J. Terrell is Mic'd Up In A Rivalry Matchup vs the Saints

Videos

Every Atlanta Falcons sack up until Week 12 | Highlights

Videos

Bijan Robinson, James Pearce Jr. & others on the Atlanta Falcons win at New Orleans

Videos

The Falcons are back in the win column! Breaking down Atlanta's 24-10 win | Final Whistle

Videos

Raheem Morris postgame locker room victory speech | Falcons vs. Saints

Videos

Kirk Cousins on the Atlanta Falcons win at New Orleans | Press Conference

Videos

Head Coach Raheem Morris on the win over the New Orleans Saints | Press Conference