Booger McFarland labels Jalon Walker 2025 NFL Draft's 'version' of Micah Parsons

In an NFL Draft filled with talent on the defensive line, some interesting pass rushers are among the top prospects. Former Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter is generating plenty of buzz, but ESPN’s Booger McFarland compared another top prospect to Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons.

McFarland said former Georgia standout Jalon Walker reminds him of Parsons. He noted the measurables might not jump off the page, but that adds to the similarities between Walker and Parsons – in addition to the fact they both wear No. 11.

Walker stands at 6-foot-2, 245 pounds as he gets ready for the NFL Scouting Combine. Parsons is listed at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds. But the way they wreak havoc on opposing offenses, McFarland said, is why he’s drawing parallels.

"I think he's this year's draft version of Micah Parsons." 👀 @ESPNBooger and @nfldraftscout praise Georgia's Jalon Walker 💪 pic.twitter.com/W3OAdSM88w

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 20, 2025

“I’m not going to go with some of the guys that have the great arm length,” McFarland said on SportsCenter Wednesday evening. “I’m going with a guy like Jalon Walker, a guy that I saw just dominate the Texas Longhorns. I don’t know what he’s going to measure, Kev, but I guarantee you this – if you measure impact and playmaking ability, you can line him up anywhere, whether it be off the ball, whether it be on the edge.

“I think he’s this year’s draft’s version of Micah Parsons. He can be an impact player wherever he goes from, and I think his ability just to impact the offense and to put a dagger in the offense, I think is going to be there from Day 1. If you want a player – I think, ideally, you can put him at a 3-4 outside linebacker at an edge. But very similar how the Cowboys use Micah Parsons, I think you can put him anywhere, it’s Jalon Walker for me.”

The comparison to Parsons is a lofty one. The former Penn State star has been the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ defense since his arrival in 2021. He made his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl this year as he recorded 43 tackles – 12 tackles for loss – and 12 sacks despite appearing in 13 out of 17 games due to injury. Those absences marked the first time Parsons missed a game since his rookie year.

What team could be a good fit for Jalon Walker?

Jalon Walker was an anchor of the Georgia defense in 2024, tying for the team lead with 6.5 sacks to go with a team-high 11 tackles for loss while recording a career-high with 60 tackles. That followed up a 2023 season in which he had five sacks to go with 20 total tackles and six tackles for loss.

But when it comes to the best fit for Walker, ESPN’s Matt Miller – who agreed with Booger McFarland – pointed to the Carolina Panthers as a potential option with the No. 8 overall pick. But he also suggested the team picking at No. 11, which could have the pieces in place to allow Walker to flourish: the San Francisco 49ers.

“I think the Carolina Panthers, they’re still looking for someone to give them that pressure off the edge with Brian Burns gone,” Miller said. “They need someone who can play in space. We’ll see exactly what their defensive alignment looks like this year. But [Walker] can play anywhere. He can play weak-side backer, you can stack him on first and second down and then let him loose. He’s going to be great at spying quarterbacks. We saw that certainly against the Texas Longhorns and everyone else in the SEC.

“But how about this fit? The San Francisco 49ers. Dre Greenlaw’s a free agent. He’s a stack linebacker. He’s likely going to be gone. Why not have Jalon Walker in there at linebacker on first and second down patrolling the middle of the field with Fred Warner. Then, on third down, you can put him opposite Nick Bosa and let him just go get quarterbacks. Walker is going to be interesting. We’ll see what he measures in at – 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, probably. But he is an exciting player, who is my No. 5 overall pick this year.”