The Atlanta Falcons did their part in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting young talent they believe can make an immediate impact in Year One. From the beginning, it was clear that head coach Raheem Morris planned to rely heavily on rookies. After a lackluster pass rush last season, Morris made it a priority to address that need by selecting two defenders in the first round.
“Raheem Morris says he was tired of getting grilled for the lack of a pass rush for the Falcons, and they were intentional about fixing that this offseason,” Will McFadden wrote. “That's got to change, and the only way to change that is to change that.”
Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are expected to be absolute game-changers for Atlanta. Both first-round picks have incredibly high ceilings. At one point, Pearce was even considered the top overall prospect in the 2025 draft class. Veteran safety Jessie Bates will play a key role in mentoring these young defenders and helping prepare them for the NFL stage.
“Bates' mentorship is crucial for the Falcons, who will likely field a very young defense in 2025. Walker and fellow pass rusher James Pearce Jr. were both first-round picks in April and will likely see a lot of playing time as rookies. The Falcons also drafted Watts and Billy Bowman Jr., a fourth-round pick who played safety in college and will play nickel corner in Atlanta,” ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote.
On Saturday, third-round pick Xavier Watts was seen taking reps alongside Bates — a major sign of confidence from the coaching staff. The Falcons clearly want Watts in a starting role, and he’s working hard to earn it.
“Main takeaway from practice today was the reps Xavier Watts was getting with Jessie Bates/the first team defense. We all know the goal is to get Watts into that starting role. The sooner they can get him in lock step with JB3 the better,” Falcons senior writer Tori McElhaney wrote.
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The Falcons are high on Watts — and for good reason. The rookie is a true ballhawk, ranking second in college football in interceptions last season and leading the nation the year before. A Bates-Watts safety duo could be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and a cornerstone of the Falcons’ revamped defense.