Risky is an understatement when talking about the Atlanta Falcons 2025Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL Draft strategy.Â
A 4-7 record isn’t how the Falcons wanted to start the season, but there are plenty of players the fans and organization can look forward to. The Falcons success rate with their first-round picks has been objectively strong in recent memory. Dating back to 2018, the team has drafted Calvin Ridley, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, AJ Terrell, Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Michael Penix Jr. all in the first-round.
Where the front office has made mistakes is in the mid-round selections. In that same time frame, the Falcons have missed on over 20 players in rounds 2-5 . That number can see an increase with the jury still being out on draft picks in the past few seasons. Luckily, the 2025 draft class has been fantastic for the Falcons, with four of their five selections being key contributors through 11 games with the organization. The team was uber-aggressive in the draft process moving up twice in the first three-rounds. How did this strategy pan out? Let’s take a look.Â
Atlanta Falcons Rookies in 2025
Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia | 15th Overall
Walker was a versatile player at Georgia seeing time as an edge rusher, off-ball linebacker and inside-linebacker. Due to that versatility, teams had his draft stock all over the first-round. Daniel Jeremiah had him as high as fifth on his big board, but some teams saw the versatility with no exact expertise as a negative more than a positive. The Falcons reaped the benefits of the minor slip in the draft selecting Walker with their first selection.
This has been a slamdunk pick for the team as Walker leads all rookies in sacks with five in just nine games. Not only that, but he also leads rookies in forced fumbles with two. PFF ranks Walker eleventh in run-defense for eligible edge rushers. Vic Beasley Jr. and Takk McKinley were the last two edge rushers drafted in the first-round by the Falcons. Those picks were flops, outside of one great season from Beasley. That draft curse has finally come to an end with Walker looking promising.Â
James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee | 26th Overall
This is where the Falcons implemented their aggressive strategy. The team traded their 2026 first-round pick, 2025 second-round pick (No. 46), and 2025 seventh-round pick (No. 242) in exchange for the Los Angeles Rams 2025 first-round pick (No. 26), which they used to take Pearce, and their 2025 third-round pick (No. 101).
Through 11 weeks, Pearce leads all rookies in pressure rate and has totaled 28 pressures and 21 hurries. Pearce’s calling card is his speed and bend combination. The Atlanta Falcons have flipped the script with their defense ranking third in sacks this season with 39. We haven’t seen a rookie edge rushing duo in some time, especially a duo that is this productive. Walker and Pearce should be a two-headed monster in the near future.
Xavier Watts, Safety, Notre Dame | 96th Overall
Due to the trade with the Rams, the Falcons found themselves in another trade-up spot. The Falcons moved up five selections, sending the Philadelphia Eagles their 2025 third-round pick (No. 101) and a 2026 fifth-round pick to select Watts.
The rangy safety was a ball hawk in college for the Fighting Irish and that has translated to the NFL as he leads all rookies in interceptions with three. Fifty solo tackles and three pass breakups highlight the rookie season ranking him twenty fifth for all safeties, according to PFF. In his first month with the team, he took home the Rookie of the Month award for his efforts. Another pick the Falcons should be looking to build around for the future.Â
Billy Bowman Jr., Nickle, Oklahoma | 118th Overall
Bowman, like Watts, was a big-play machine for the Sooners and translated that to the NFL in the early part of his rookie season. Nagging injuries following a Week 2 win versus the Minnesota Vikings left him limited in the following weeks before finally, an achilles tear knocked him out for the remainder of the season.
Bowman transformed from a college safety to a NFL nickel, and he’s had his ups-and-downs. Ending a season with a major injury is always scary and going to require a rigorous recovery process, but the flashes were shown in his rookie campaign. Nineteen solo tackles, two sacks and an interception through six games is something to be proud of. The versatility Bowman brought was very beneficial for Jeff Ulbrich‘s defense and you can think the staff is hoping for a full recovery for 2026.Â
Jack Nelson, Tackle, Wisconsin | 218th Overall
Nelson is yet to play for the Falcons this season not recording a single snap. As a seventh round pick, this isn’t necessarily unexpected, but the Falcons have dealt with injuries to the tackle position causing him to rise on the depth chart. Making the team as a seventh round pick isn’t guaranteed, and moving your way up the depth chart can be encouraging for a rotational player.
Nelson is a pick we see the Falcons make very often. A very experienced and versatile offensive lineman with standout athletic traits. Nelson is a player who, if correctly developed, can be a solid piece for the Falcons as a do-it-all rotational lineman. We have to wait and see if Nelson can be a player who sees playing time but he is a scheme fit.
Four of the Atlanta Falcons rookies have shown they can be good pieces along a defense that is playing the best it’s played in years. The Falcons moved their first-round pick in the 2026 draft to address the edge position, and that decision is paying dividends. The record isn’t where you’d want it, but the pick was likely going to be spent on a defensive player anyways if the Falcons kept it. Ensuring a position of need with a player who has freak traits and has shown to be able to produce has to be seen as a win with Pearce.Â
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