Mike Mayock has a higher NFL Draft grade for Georgia’s Jalon Walker than Abdul Carter

In the world of the NFL Draft, few things garner as much attention as comparisons between elite prospects. With every year that passes, teams and analysts alike pour over tape, statistics, and combine results, trying to predict which players will become future stars at the next level. Among the highly anticipated positions in the draft are linebackers, whose ability to disrupt plays, read offenses, and make key tackles can change the course of games. For the 2024 NFL Draft, two standout linebackers have drawn significant interest: Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Penn State’s Abdul Carter. Both players have been central figures for their respective teams, each displaying remarkable athleticism, field awareness, and potential.

In a surprising and interesting twist, NFL analyst Mike Mayock, known for his extensive experience in scouting and evaluating talent, has given a higher draft grade to Georgia’s Jalon Walker compared to Abdul Carter, a player many had previously considered a top linebacker prospect. This article will explore the reasoning behind Mayock’s evaluation, break down the strengths and weaknesses of both players, and examine why Jalon Walker might be considered the superior prospect despite the hype surrounding Carter.

Jalon Walker: The Rising Star at Georgia

Jalon Walker is part of a long line of Georgia linebackers who have earned national acclaim for their athleticism, intelligence, and physicality. At 6’2″ and 230 pounds, Walker has the ideal frame for a modern linebacker, blending the size of a traditional linebacker with the speed and agility of a more dynamic, sideline-to-sideline player. As a sophomore in 2023, Walker took over as a key contributor to Georgia’s defense, a unit that has consistently been one of the best in the country under head coach Kirby Smart.

Walker was a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school, and he has lived up to the hype in his time in Athens. Over the course of the 2023 season, Walker made an immediate impact, flashing elite traits in both run defense and pass coverage. His combination of size, speed, and football IQ allowed him to excel in Georgia’s multiple defensive schemes, showcasing the versatility that NFL teams covet.

Strengths of Jalon Walker

1. Athleticism and Speed: Walker is an athletic specimen, capable of covering a lot of ground in a short amount of time. His 4.5-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine would have been impressive for a linebacker his size, and his ability to change direction quickly makes him a threat in pass coverage and pursuit situations. He is equally effective at diagnosing plays and getting into position, whether it’s covering tight ends in space or rushing the quarterback from the edge.
2. Coverage Skills: What sets Walker apart from many linebackers is his ability to cover in the passing game. He is comfortable in both zone and man-to-man coverage, something that has become increasingly important in today’s NFL, where linebackers are often tasked with covering running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. His ability to handle these duties with ease has been a key aspect of Georgia’s success on defense.
3. Tackling and Physicality: Walker brings a physical presence to the field. He excels in making open-field tackles and is consistently around the ball, showing great instincts in diagnosing running plays. His ability to deliver big hits while remaining technically sound in tackling fundamentals will make him a valuable asset at the NFL level.
4. Football IQ and Leadership: One of Walker’s underrated qualities is his football intelligence. He has a natural ability to read and react to plays, diagnosing offensive schemes and making adjustments accordingly. This mental acuity has helped him thrive in Georgia’s complex defense, which requires linebackers to quickly recognize and react to various offensive sets.
5. Versatility: Walker has been used in a variety of roles at Georgia, including as an edge rusher, inside linebacker, and coverage defender. This versatility is exactly what NFL teams are looking for in today’s linebacker, who must be able to contribute in all areas of the game. Whether it’s filling gaps in the running game, rushing the quarterback, or covering passes, Walker is capable of doing it all.

Weaknesses of Jalon Walker

While Walker is an impressive prospect, he is not without his areas of improvement. For one, his ability to shed blockers in tight spaces has been inconsistent. While he can make plays in the open field, he occasionally struggles when it comes to disengaging from offensive linemen, something that will be critical at the next level. Additionally, while his pass coverage is strong, his ability to diagnose complex passing schemes in the NFL, where quarterbacks read defenses much faster, may require further refinement.

Abdul Carter: The Fearsome Playmaker from Penn State

On the other side of the coin is Abdul Carter, an imposing linebacker from Penn State who is widely regarded as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Like Walker, Carter’s combination of size and athleticism makes him a nightmare for opposing offenses. At 6’2″ and 250 pounds, Carter is an explosive athlete with the strength to hold his ground in the trenches and the speed to cover sideline to sideline. As a sophomore, he became a key contributor to Penn State’s defense, earning numerous accolades and emerging as one of the most feared linebackers in the Big Ten.

Strengths of Abdul Carter

1. Elite Physicality: Carter is a powerhouse linebacker with a rare combination of size, speed, and strength. He is explosive off the line of scrimmage and delivers punishing hits. His ability to read plays and get into position quickly makes him a major threat to opposing offenses, whether he’s stuffing the run or rushing the passer.
2. Pass Rush Ability: Carter’s ability to rush the quarterback is one of his standout qualities. He is a menace off the edge, using a combination of speed and power to break through offensive lines and pressure quarterbacks. His pass-rushing ability would make him an attractive option for NFL teams looking for a linebacker who can impact the game in multiple ways.
3. Run Defense: Carter is a physical presence in the running game. He can shed blockers with relative ease, and his ability to diagnose plays quickly allows him to be an effective run stopper. His strength and awareness allow him to take on offensive linemen and find the ball carrier, where he finishes plays with powerful tackles.
4. Instincts: Carter has excellent instincts on the field, which allows him to quickly read and react to plays. Whether he’s chasing down ball carriers or dropping into coverage, he has a natural ability to find the football and make plays.

Weaknesses of Abdul Carter

Despite his impressive skill set, Carter does have some areas that need refinement. For one, while he is an exceptional pass rusher, his coverage skills, particularly in space, are a bit raw. He has shown an ability to cover running backs and tight ends at times, but he can be caught out of position in certain situations. Additionally, while he’s powerful, Carter occasionally struggles with his tackling technique, sometimes relying too much on power and not enough on form. This can lead to missed tackles, which would be costly in the NFL.

Mike Mayock’s Evaluation: Why Walker Gets the Edge

Mike Mayock, who has years of experience as an NFL Network draft analyst and a former NFL general manager, is widely respected for his ability to evaluate talent. When Mayock gave a higher draft grade to Jalon Walker over Abdul Carter, it caught the attention of scouts, analysts, and fans alike.

1. Coverage Ability: One of the biggest reasons for Mayock’s higher grade for Walker is his ability to cover. In today’s NFL, linebackers are expected to cover a wide range of players, from running backs to tight ends and even wide receivers in some cases. Walker’s proven ability to cover all these positions with ease makes him a more complete player in comparison to Carter, who still needs to develop his coverage skills to become a three-down linebacker.
2. Versatility: While Carter is a more traditional linebacker with a focus on stopping the run and rushing the passer, Walker’s versatility is what makes him such a valuable asset. Mayock has consistently praised players who can fill multiple roles, and Walker’s ability to impact both the run and the pass game makes him a more attractive prospect, especially in a league where linebackers must do it all.
3. Football IQ and Leadership: Another factor that sets Walker apart from Carter is his football IQ. Walker’s understanding of the game, ability to diagnose plays quickly, and leadership on the field were key components in Georgia’s success. Mayock values these intangibles highly, as they can be the difference between an elite player and a good one. While Carter has plenty of potential, Walker’s mental acuity is a standout feature.
4. NFL Fit: Lastly, Mayock believes that Walker’s skill set is better suited to the modern NFL, where linebackers need to excel in coverage and be versatile enough to play in different systems. Carter, while explosive, may need more time to develop his coverage abilities and fine-tune his overall game to fit into a variety of schemes.