Post-2025 NFL Combine defensive prospects that make sense for the Atlanta Falcons

Standouts on defense, where the Falcons figure to focus their draft efforts.

The NFL Combine has concluded, and draft boards are starting to come into form. With measurements, interviews, and testing scores all accounted for, let’s take a look at a handful of prospects who showed off in Indianapolis and could be targeted to help improve this struggling Atlanta Falcons defense in April.

Jihaad Campbell – LB, Alabama

Campbell has been a hot name leading up to the combine, and the prospect did not disappoint. Many had a first-round grade on the linebacker, but he was not considered a top-15 prospect by all. Now the tide has shifted.

Campbell posted combine figures that align with Fred Warner’s, and that’s the caliber of player a franchise taking him in the top half of round one needs him to be. An off-ball linebacker’s value is in the eye of the beholder, in this case the team’s defensive orchestrator(s).

The position has been treated like its mortal enemy (the running back) for the past decade, but both appear poised for a comeback. Certain defenses put a lot of responsibilities on their level two defenders, and Atlanta was one of them in 2024. Jeff Ulbrich is a former linebacker himself, and if the Falcons are hell-bent on living in Nickel and Tampa 2, they need to find a linebacker who can play it consistently. Tampa 2 just so happens to be one of Campbell’s favorite coverages.

Billy Bowman – SAF, Oklahoma

Bowman’s stock has been rising following his performance at the Senior Bowl, and his showing at the combine has solidified him as an early Day 2 prospect. The former Sooner may measure just below 5’10”, but he possesses the athleticism to make up for it—showcasing a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, a 10’3” broad jump, and a 35.5” vertical leap.

Bowman’s tape shows a player with enough range to operate in the slot and as a safety while playing fearless against the run. Bowman is a seasoned player with 2,203 snaps in the last three seasons, a quality this staff has valued for the past four years. Bowman will be a fantastic consolation prize if the Falcons miss out on one of the premier safeties in this class.

Trey Amos – CB, Ole Miss

Amos is another prospect whose stock was already on the rise going into the combine, and the corner was able to capitalize on his trip to Indianapolis. Amos clocked a 4.43 40 to pair with his prototypical outside corner build of 6’1” and 195lbs. The corner is known for his pesky man coverage and ability to stick to receivers like glue and erase them. A deeper look at the film shows natural zone instincts and a physical football player.

Outside of a couple of names, the Falcons entire secondary will be free agents in less than two weeks. Amos can do more than fill a void left by one of these stopgaps; he can raise the level of outside corner play across from AJ Terrell to heights this defense has never experienced.

Zeek Biggers – IDL, Georgia Tech

A 1Tech defensive tackle with the name “Biggers,” need I say more?

Zeek first stood out to me on the practice field at the East-West Shrine Bowl, and that’s because he’s nearly 6’6” at 321lbs with 34⅞” arms. Biggers isn’t just a ball of mass; the man can move, posting an elite vertical (34.5”), broad jump (9’3”), and 40-yard dash (5.09) for a man of his stature. Thus, he produced a RAS card that Terry Fontenont is desperate to add to his collection.

Biggers was reportedly playing at 360 lbs while at Georgia Tech, so seeing him shed that weight by the time his draft process began really highlights how dedicated and committed he is to being the best pro he can be. Prospects like Biggers are a testament to how deep this defensive tackle class is, and there’s no need to reach for a Deone Walker when another freak like Biggers will be available later in the draft.

Jahdae Barron – DB, Texas

A lot can change between now and the draft, but Barron appears to be a lock for the top 20; some think the top 15. A nickel defender sounds like a luxury pick, but as mentioned with Campbell, if Atlanta is going to put the same amount of stress on their second-level defenders, they need an impact player that can handle it, and Barron fits the description. The testing numbers lined up with the tape.

Baron offers speed and range at the second and third levels; he can even take work outside situationally. His versatility would alleviate various problems for the defense, and the team would add another playmaker to pair with Jessie Bates. Barron is seen as the top secondary prospect by many, and with the Falcons (potential) holes at both safety and corner, it’s easy to see the team falling in love with the player at 15.

While I didn’t mention any EDGE rushers, the Falcons will have plenty of options to land a quality one in the first two days of the draft. However, other positions deserve consideration as we wait for the chips to fall.

With free agency on the horizon, we’ll soon have a better idea of the direction the Jeff Ublrich-led defense wants to take. What other defensive prospects do you think stand out now that the combine is over?