2025 NFL Draft Grades: Atlanta Falcons

Best Pick: It was their first pick, edge Jalon Walker. He was considered a top-10 selection by some, yet ended up going 15. He can do a lot of things, which they will love on their defense.

Worst Pick: It's not that edge James Pearce Jr. is a bad player. In fact, I think he has top-10 talent. But there were some character concerns and they gave up a bunch to trade up and get him, including a 2026 first-round pick. Pearce has the burst off the edge, which can make him a star.

The Skinny: They were bold on the first day, adding two speedy edge players who can liven up the pass rush. Walker came with the 15th pick and then adding Pearce was another big move. The draft will be defined by Pearce. If he plays to his top-10 talent, they nailed it. They also took two safeties, which they needed to do.

Top needs entering the draft: Edge rusher, cornerback and defensive tackle

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 predraft 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.

In a vacuum, it's great to see the Falcons address a major position of need by adding not just one, but two pass rushers in the first round, scooping up great value with Georgia's Jalon Walker before trading back into the first round for Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. But that latter selection came at a potentially massive cost: The Falcons gave up a 2026 first-rounder to move up to take Pearce. If things go sideways in 2025—which feels like a real possibility, considering the state of the roster—that could end up being a top-15 pick or higher. Outside the first round, I liked that the Falcons added a pair of rangy, physical safeties on Day 2 and Day 3, nabbing Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts and Oklahoma thumper Billy Bowman. That duo brings an intimidation factor to the secondary. Overall this is a solid haul of players, but I don't love that they had to give up a future first-round pick to make it work.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Had the Falcons just traded back into the first round for James Pearce, fine. Unfortunately for them, they gave up their 2026 first-round pick to do so, which is like paying $37 for a bottle of Smart Water. Pearce may end up being a good NFL player, but needlessly giving up a future first-round pick knocks their grade down substantially, which is a shame because Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman were both good value picks, and Jalon Walker will likely be pretty good. If not for the insane overpay, this is probably close to an A.