The first wave of free agency is over, and Kevin Knight is here to bring you an updated 7-round mock draft (with a trade!) for the Falcons. Would Atlanta consider a trade down from 15, and who might be left on the board for them in the 20s?
The first week of NFL free agency is behind us. Did the Atlanta Falcons actually improve in the process? That’s a bit of an open question. Atlanta did add a number of veterans to the roster that solidified a few positions, while losing their fair share of contributors in the process—most notably, center Drew Dalman and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.
Now that we’ve seen the first round of additions and subtractions, it’s the perfect opportunity to do another full seven-round mock draft for the Falcons. In this mock, I will consider trades for the first time as well. It’s a bit easier to project now that we’ve seen where the biggest dominoes have fallen, and it’s also something that Atlanta is very likely to consider due to their lack of draft capital.
Before we jump in to the mock, let’s take a look at the Falcons’ current haul of draft picks. Now that the compensatory picks have officially been awarded, this should be the final placement for these picks.
What are the Falcons current 2025 NFL Draft picks?
- Round 1, Pick 15
- Round 2, Pick 46
- Round 4, Pick 116
- Round 7, Pick 218 (from Chargers)
- Round 7, Pick 242 (from Rams)
This is the written version, but you can also find the mock draft in two alternate forms as well. On our YouTube channel:
The mock is also available on all your favorite podcast platforms! You can listen to it directly here:
Previous mock drafts: First edition | Post-Combine | Post-Free Agency
TRADE — Round 1, Pick 22: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Falcons trade pick 15 and pick 242 (7th) to the Chargers for picks 22, 86 (3rd), and 125 (4th).
The simple truth is that the Falcons need picks, and they need them badly. This draft has a lot of depth in the middle rounds that Atlanta desperately needs for the long haul. That leads me to believe the team will be trying very hard to trade down, and would be willing to take slightly below market value to help facilitate it. The Chargers are in dire need of another top receiver and face a dicey situation between picks 15 and 22. These receivers could go quick, and if Los Angeles has a clear favorite, jumping up with Atlanta could make a lot of sense for both sides. So Atlanta accepts a third and a fourth to move down to 22.
Luckily, this class is deep in the positions of need for Atlanta: defensive line and defensive back. Malaki Starks wound up going at pick 21, so the Falcons pivot to one of my favorite edge rushers on the board: Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton. All the hype is currently on Shemar Stewart thanks to his ludicrous athletic testing, but Scourton is the better player right now. If not for a down year playing 20 pounds too heavy in 2024, Scourton might still be talked about as a top-20 pick.
Scourton’s 2023 season at Purdue showed off who he really is: an experienced pass rusher with a deep bag of moves and a great feel for the position. I think he’s a good athlete when playing at his more natural weight of 260, and that’s where I’d keep him. Scourton isn’t the biggest or longest (6’3, 33” arms), but his rush repertoire mitigates those concerns. I’d like to see Scourton become a more consistent run defender, but I think he’s a much better pass rusher than the consensus believes and a good value here at 22.
Round 2, Pick 46: SAF Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
While Atlanta missed out on Malaki Starks in the first round, they get the next best prospect in Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts. Watts turned in an elite 2024 season which saw him post six interceptions, five PBUs, and a ridiculous 30.1 passer rating allowed in coverage. Watts checks the size boxes for an NFL safety at nearly 6’ and over 200 pounds, and he’s got solid length as well. He’s an elite coverage player who excels in man when called upon, playing nearly 400 snaps in the slot over the past two seasons.
Watts is a ballhawk above all else, as his numbers attest. He’s an elite processor with high-level instincts who is always finding a way into the action. His tackling was problematic in past seasons, but he did look a lot better in run support this year. Watts’ aggressiveness can sometimes get him into trouble, leading to some “boom or bust” moments on the field. Even still, he’s trending in the right direction and put in a lot of effort to improve his biggest weakness (tackling) in 2024. I love his trajectory and think he could end up being an excellent long-term partner for Jessie Bates.
Round 3, Pick 86: C Jared Wilson, Georgia
Pick acquired from Chargers.
With the Falcons losing Drew Dalman in free agency, the center position has suddenly become an issue. The team seems pretty comfortable with former UDFA Ryan Neuzil taking over, but that doesn’t feel like a long-term solution. Thanks to the trade down with the Chargers, Atlanta actually can address the center position with a very popular pick: Georgia’s Jared Wilson.
Wilson was a one-year starter for the Bulldogs who impressed after taking over for the stalwart Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. That season looked like it would be enough to get Wilson drafted on Day 3 thanks to his potential, but a head-turning Combine performance has almost certainly lifted him into Day 2 consideration. Wilson finished with an elite 9.98 RAS and some of the most impressive athletic testing from any offensive lineman in the class. He’s got good size at 6’3, 310 and turned in some elite pass blocking grades on PFF, allowing zero sacks and just six total pressures on 810 snaps.
Wilson isn’t anywhere near the run blocker than Drew Dalman was, and that seems to be his biggest weakness heading into the NFL. He needs to get stronger and continue to gain experience, but Wilson has tremendous potential in a zone blocking scheme thanks to his athleticism. He looks like a perfect fit in Atlanta’s offense and a logical long-term replacement for Dalman who can bring better pass blocking to the table.
Round 4, Pick 118: DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon
The Falcons elect to wait on adding an interior defender, but the wait pays off with one of the most interesting nose tackle prospects in the class: Oregon’s Jamaree Caldwell. A big winner from the Senior Bowl, Caldwell has risen up draft boards thanks to an impressive final season. Caldwell has an ideal build for a nose tackle at 6’2 and over 330, although his length is below threshold at just 32”. I think he’s actually a perfect fit as a 4-3 NT, which I expect to see the Falcons deploy a lot more under Jeff Ulbrich.
Where Caldwell stands out is with his quick feet and initial burst off the line of scrimmage. Along with his run-stuffing prowess, he actually offers disruption as a pass rusher and better-than-expected pursuit ability. Caldwell managed an impressive 9.3% pass rush win rate and batted down four passes. His length limitations do put a cap on his ceiling, but I think Caldwell can be an effective rotational player for an NFL defense who’s more than just a space eater.
Round 4, Pick 125: CB Alijah Huzzie, North Carolina
Pick acquired from Chargers.
The Falcons still haven’t addressed their slot vacancy in free agency, and that’s a little concerning to me. Either they believe fully in Natrone Brooks (who I like!), or they’re hoping to find someone in the NFL Draft. There are number of good slot players in this class, on Day 3 I like what I’ve seen from North Carolina’s Alijah Huzzie.
Huzzie impressed at the Shrine Bowl, more than holding his own against a tough group of receivers. While he played the 2024 season on the outside, he started all of 2023 in the slot and put together some great tape there. Huzzie is undersized at 5’10, 193 and with under 30” arms, there’s no denying that. But he’s a feisty player who doesn’t shy away from contact, and could carve out a role as a slot defender in the NFL. Huzzie is a ballhawk (11 PBUs and 1 INT in 2024, 3 INT in 2023, and 6 INT in 2022) and is a dangerous player in both man and zone coverage. I think he’d be a great add to the slot competition in 2025.
Round 7, Pick 218: OT Hollin Pierce, Rutgers
Pick acquired from Chargers.
As of now, the Falcons still haven’t extended Kaleb McGary. That’s one of the team’s best avenues for salary cap space in 2025. It’s too early to think much of it, but at the very least it probably signals some long-term uneasiness with McGary’s ability to protect Michael Penix’s blindside. While McGary has made strides to becoming an average pass protector over the past two seasons, he’s still just that. Atlanta seems to be pivoting to a focus on the passing game, so moving on from McGary might be a future consideration.
In that case, the Falcons need to load up on developmental tackles in the hopes of unearthing a starter over the next season or two. Rutgers’ Hollin Pierce is one of the most interesting in the class. An absolute mountain at 6’8, 344 an with 36” (!!) arms, he’s one of the largest players in the class…period. He actually moves fairly well for his size and performed well in zone blocking concepts, but he’s got a lot of room for growth. Pierce did improve significantly in his final season and looks the part of a perfect late round stash for the Falcons who just might pay off in a few years.
What do you think about this potential draft class for the Falcons? Leave your draft takes in the comments below!