Falcons rookies James Pearce, Jalon Walker on historic sack pace - ESPN

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. were driven separately to Charlotte just hours after the 2025 NFL draft.

The North Carolina natives didn't know each other despite their similar roots. They met for the first time right before they boarded the Atlanta Falcons team plane, en route to the city where they would be teammates. Two players from the same place who play the same position (edge rusher) were both drafted by the same team in the first round — Walker at 15, Pearce at 26 — a rarity in the NFL.

By the time that flight descended into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a friendship had been forged.

«Knew this was home for us,» Pearce said. «He got drafted a few spots ahead of me in the draft, but ever since we loaded up the jet and landed in Atlanta, that's been my guy.»

The Falcons are hoping that short journey is the opening scene to a beautiful relationship between players who could be cornerstones of their defense for many years. And so far, that has begun taking shape in very real ways.

Pearce is tied for the team lead — and NFL lead for rookies — with six sacks while Walker has five. In the past 35 seasons, the Falcons have had only three rookies get to five sacks: Walker and Pearce this season and Takkarist McKinley in 2017. One would have to go all the way back to 1988 for the last time the Falcons had a pair of rookies with five or more sacks in a single season. The two will try to further reinforce their rookie resumes Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime) and quarterback Baker Mayfield, who's been sacked 24 times.

The two have nicknamed themselves «Thunder and Lightning,» but neither is sure who is which.

«As long as we're striking