Reviewing how everyone views the Falcons draft.
With the 2025 NFL Draft officially in the books, as we do every year, we turn our sights to the draft grades around the media landscape. You’ll quickly find below that the Falcons grades a somewhat in the middle, between Cs and Bs, despite a majority of fans seemingly really liking this class.
First, let’s recap the Falcons 2025 NFL Draft class.
• Round 1, Pick 15: EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia
Atlanta adds a talented team leader and pass rusher in Walker, known for his versatility and ability to spy mobile quarterbacks, highlighting the Falcons’ confidence in his potential as an impactful player on the defensive front.
• Round 1, Pick 26: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
The Falcons selected Pearce, who they envision as a fierce edge rusher with exceptional speed and pass-rushing skills, making him an immediate third-down option and a potential long-term starter alongside Walker.
• Round 3, Pick 96: S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
The Falcons continued to focus on defense with Watts, a skilled safety renowned for his ball-hawking instincts that challenge careless quarterbacks. While he needs improvement in run defense, he’ll quickly enhance pass coverage alongside Jessie Bates.
• Round 4, Pick 118: DB Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Atlanta reinforced their safety position by adding Bowman, who is expected to serve as a nickel option. With excellent ball skills, including interceptions and deflections, he should outshine his competition, despite concerns about his tackling in college.
• Round 7, Pick 218: OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin
After four defensive picks, Atlanta selects Nelson to enhance their offensive line. With good size and mobility, he needs to improve his pass protection and strength, but Dwayne Ledford aims to develop him into a valuable reserve.
Alright, now that we have reviewed the Falcons selections, let’s check out the grades. It’s worth noting before we dive into anything, that grades are initial and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. You realistically don’t know how a team’s draft went until about 3-4 years later.
Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN): C
The Falcons had 31 sacks last season, more than just one other team (New England). In fact, since 2019, they have 169 total sacks, 30 fewer than any other team, according to ESPN Research. They added Leonard Floyd and Morgan Fox in free agency, but look at their depth chart: Do any of those pre-draft pass rushers scare you?
That’s why I — and pretty much every other draft analyst — had connected them with the edge rushers in Round 1. They had to come away from this draft with talent for new coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to work with, despite having only five total picks and two in the top 100. They found value at No. 15, too. Jalon Walker was 10th on my board. I graded him as an off-ball linebacker — he has the sideline-to-sideline speed to be a factor there — but Atlanta is going to run him off the edge. Walker blasts into the backfield with his explosion and bend, and he had 11.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Good start!
It was short-lived, though. Atlanta wasn’t satisfied and added another edge rusher 11 picks later. It had to trade up to get James Pearce Jr., and while his traits are undeniable, the value was suspect. Among the shuffled picks in the deal with the Rams, the Falcons coughed up a 2026 first-rounder to jump from No. 46 all the way up into Round 1. Hindsight is 20-20, but Donovan Ezeiruaku (No. 23 overall) had a higher grade than Pearce (No. 34) on my board and didn’t go until No. 44. I can’t knock throwing everything at the pass rush, but Atlanta reached here. And it gave up too much to do so.
I had cornerback as the second-biggest need behind edge, but interestingly, the Falcons went hard at safety. Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr are both ball hawks. Since the start of the 2023 season, Watts led the FBS with 13 interceptions, and Bowman tied for seventh with eight. Atlanta signed Jordan Fuller to slot next to Jessie Bates III, but Watts and Bowman will provide depth. Neither Fuller nor Bates is signed beyond 2026.
The Falcons used their first four picks on the defensive side of the ball for the first time since 2009. I just wish one of them went to the cornerback group and maybe one of them was directed at defensive tackle. But the real hit — the key reason I have Atlanta this “C” — was trading away the 2026 first-rounder.
Chad Reuter (NFL): B-
The Falcons did not mess around when it came to addressing their pass rush need, getting good value in Walker at No. 15 and taking a chance on Pearce’s upside later in Round 1. The risk of giving up a 2026 first-rounder to trade up for Pearce was somewhat mitigated by receiving a 2025 third-rounder in return. They met a huge need with the selection of the ballhawking Watts in Round 3.
Atlanta was docked a Day 3 pick and traded others, but Bowman was a nice addition in Round 4. He’s a future starter at strong safety and could play nickel in 2025 if asked. Nelson is the swing tackle Atlanta needed behind Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary. They should be looking for a center after the draft, though, as well as corners and receivers.
Pro Football Focus (PFF): A-
Walker — Walker brings natural athleticism at off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, providing a versatile defender to a Falcons defense in need of impact playmakers. Atlanta ranked 31st in pass-rush win rate (34.2%) and 29th in total quarterback pressures (230) in 2024, likely resulting in Walker finding a home on the edge. He earned an 83.0-plus PFF pass rush grade in each of the past two seasons.
Pearce — The Falcons trade up into the first round to double up on athletic pass-rushers, as Pearce was the fastest defensive lineman at the NFL combine. Pearce defeats blocks exceedingly well, generating a 23.0% pass-rush win rate while also sporting an 84.1 run-defense grade. The Falcons had one of the worst pass-rushing defensive lines in the NFL in 2024 but immediately improved that tonight.
Watts — The Falcons again trade up to acquire a potential impact defender. Watts profiles as one of the best ball-hawking safeties in the class, showcasing excellent anticipation and football IQ. He racked up six interceptions in 2024, on his way to an 89.0 PFF coverage grade.
Bowman — In an interesting move, the Falcons double up on safety after taking Xavier Watts with their previous selection. Bowman flies around the secondary and will form an interesting trio with Watts and Jessie Bates. Tackling has been an issue for Bowman, though, as he has missed roughly a quarter of his tackle attempts in all four years of his collegiate career.
Nelson — At 6-foot-7 and 316 pounds, Nelson is on the leaner side for his size, but his production has been very consistent over the past four seasons, earning a PFF grade of at least 71.7 each year as a starter. He particularly excels in outside zone as a run blocker and posted an 85.4 run-blocking grade in that scheme a season ago.
Gilberto Manzano (Sports Illustrated): B
The Falcons losing a 2026 first-round pick in their trade-up for Pearce will prevent them from getting an A here, but there’s plenty to like about the upgrades they made at edge rusher. Walker is an intriguing hybrid player who can play off-ball linebacker, and Pearce has the athleticism and skill set to end up being the best edge rusher from this draft. If the Falcons are right about these two defenders, especially Pearce, this team could make plenty of noise this upcoming season. The Falcons are set on the offensive side with Michael Penix Jr. having a stout offensive line and elite playmakers. Now it’s on the defense to step up and help them win the NFC South.
Nate Davis (USA Today): B
They’re not afraid, that’s for sure – and the decision to take QB Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 a year ago has aged well despite all the handwringing at the time. This year, GM Terry Fontenot snagged OLB Jalon Walker at No. 15, potentially one of this draft’s best selections – particularly given the Falcons’ years-long inability to rush the quarterback. Yet dealing back up to No. 26 for OLB James Pearce – generally nothing wrong with doubling down – will likely render as the tipping point. Pearce’s talent is undeniable, so there was a reason he was still available at that juncture. Also, Fontenot mortgaged that 2026 first-rounder to get him – quite a risk since this team doesn’t exactly appear ready to win the Super Bowl given it still hasn’t managed to win the NFC South since 2016. Safeties Xavier Watts (Round 3) and Billy Bowman Jr. (Round 4) will add juice to a secondary that shed Justin Simmons.
Rob Maaddi (AP News): B+
Edge Jalon Walker (15) was a top-10 projection who’ll boost the pass rush. Trading up to get edge James Pearce Jr. (26) could have the same impact on Atlanta’s defense as the Eagles got after taking CBs Quinyon Mitchell and DeJean last season. S Xavier Watts (96) fits coach Raheem Morris’ scheme. S Billy Bowman Jr. (118) has to be more consistent at the next level.
Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports): B-
General manager Terry Fontenot has no chill — he didn’t just avoid picking an offensive skill-position player in Round 1; he doubled dipped at edge rusher that included a massive trade up for the uber-talented James Pearce Jr.
Watts is about as high floor as a deep safety prospect can get, and Bowman is boom or bust. He’s a madman carrying out a variety of defensive back roles, but seemingly misses every other tackle attempt and has a tiny frame.
Rob Rang (FOX Sports): C+
There is something to be said for approaching a draft with clear-cut goals and addressing those needs. Similar to the Cardinals one spot earlier, it had to be refreshing for defensive-minded head coach Raheem Morris to so thoroughly address a sagging Atlanta pass rush, investing not one but two first-round picks in twitchy sack stars Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. I love Walker’s versatility and alpha-dog mentality, and Pearce might just be the bendiest rusher of this class (though he doesn’t chip in much against the run).
Each offers immediate impact potential, as does the Falcons’ new safety tandem of Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. in the middle rounds. Both are natural ballhawks capable of taking advantage of the green quarterbacks of the NFC South. The Falcons only had five picks to play with, and their double-dipping strategy leaves almost zero room for error.
Charles McDonald (Yahoo! Sports): C-
Here’s why: In a vacuum, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are two players the Falcons needed to add for their defense, but giving up a future first-round pick for Pearce was asinine. Unless the Falcons unexpectedly go on a deep playoff run, that pick could be fairly high in the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, they’ve at least attempted to fix their pass rush in a serious manner, which is something they desperately needed to do. Drafting two safeties instead of addressing their interior depth was an interesting move, but Jessie Bates III, Billy Bowman Jr. and Xavier Watts are all ballhawks.
Most interesting pick: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Figuring out where Walker plays his best ball for the Falcons will be fascinating because he doesn’t really fit cleanly at edge rusher or off-ball linebacker yet, but he has the athleticism to figure out how to be productive somewhere. This is a playmaker the Falcons needed to add regardless, even if his role in the puzzle still needs to be figured out.
Evan Birchfield (The Falcoholic): A
Maybe I lean more on the optimistic side of things, but I thought given their limited picks this year, the Falcons had a great draft — maybe the best since the 2016 class. Now again, we won’t know for sure until a few years from now what this class actually is. By 2028 we could look back at how the team gambled swapping a future first for Pearce Jr. who turns out to be a bust. Or we could look back and go wow, that class set up future playoff appearances. I’m choosing to go with option two. For years the team ignored the pass rush, constantly finishing towards the bottom on sacks and pressures year in and year out. Now they’ve addressed that getting two insanely talented prospects with hopes that they can transition their skills to the next level.
Additionally, I really liked the value of snagging safety Xavier Watts in the third round. Many draft analysts had a second-round projection for him and he’s a ballhawk. I know the term is often overused, but he actually is one. The Falcons could come away from this draft with 3-4 starters and I don’t know how that earns anything less than a B.
Well, there you have it. Grades from among the sports media best which as you saw were largely in the “The Falcons had a decent draft” area. Not great, not awful. That last guy seems to really know what’s going on though, so you should only focus on his grade.
Joking aside, I have mentioned it a few times in this article so one more won’t hurt—don’t take these grades too seriously, at least not right now. Give it a few years and then come back and we’ll all have a better understand on if the Falcons screwed up or hit it out of the park with their 2025 draft class.