The 2025 NFL draft netted the Atlanta Falcons a pair of much-needed edge rushers and two playmaking defensive backs with a chance to play key roles this season. While not everyone agrees on the team’s decision to trade up for James Pearce Jr., nobody can deny the defense needed to make a splash.
The Falcons ended the 2024 season with two encouraging offensive performances and two putrid showings on defense during losses to the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers. It became clear that Atlanta wouldn’t be headed to the playoffs until the defense caught up to the offense.
Nobody is suggesting the Falcons did enough in one draft to become an elite defensive unit, however, they made out well for a team lacking the salary cap space to make a splash in free agency.
With Jalon Walker, James Pearce, Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman, the team should — at the very least — be better than last season. The Falcons defense was placed near the bottom of Bleacher Report’s post-draft rankings, landing at No. 28.
“Last season, they finished with the second-fewest sacks in the league for the second time in three years,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport. “Per Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut, they were also 27th in pass-rush win rate in 2024. To Atlanta’s credit, it went hard at edge-rushers in the offseason, signing veteran Leonard Floyd and drafting a pair of pass-rushers in Round 1 in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.”
While Bleacher Report liked the team’s moves, the Falcons will have to produce before those around the league truly start to buy in.
“If those young pass-rushers can get home with any regularity, the Falcons have the talent on the back end to outperform this ranking,” added Davenport. “But if the team struggles rushing the passer again in 2025, it’s going to be another long year for the defense.”
When a team struggles to pressure opposing quarterbacks the way Atlanta has in recent years, it’s hard to blame any analyst for taking a wait-and-see approach.
Around Falcons Wire
- Falcons 53-man roster prediction
- Top remaining NFL free agents
- Falcons 2025 strength of schedule
- NFL.com flames Falcons draft class
- Cobee Bryant: Impact player for ATL?
- Xavier Watts: A “perfect” fit in ATL
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons defense ranked among NFL’s worst in post-draft rankings
The 2025 NFL draft netted the Atlanta Falcons a pair of much-needed edge rushers and two playmaking defensive backs with a chance to play key roles this season. While not everyone agrees on the team’s decision to trade up for James Pearce Jr., nobody can deny the defense needed to make a splash.
The Falcons ended the 2024 season with two encouraging offensive performances and two putrid showings on defense during losses to the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers. It became clear that Atlanta wouldn’t be headed to the playoffs until the defense caught up to the offense.
Nobody is suggesting the Falcons did enough in one draft to become an elite defensive unit, however, they made out well for a team lacking the salary cap space to make a splash in free agency.
With Jalon Walker, James Pearce, Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman, the team should — at the very least — be better than last season. The Falcons defense was placed near the bottom of Bleacher Report’s post-draft rankings, landing at No. 28.
“Last season, they finished with the second-fewest sacks in the league for the second time in three years,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport. “Per Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut, they were also 27th in pass-rush win rate in 2024. To Atlanta’s credit, it went hard at edge-rushers in the offseason, signing veteran Leonard Floyd and drafting a pair of pass-rushers in Round 1 in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.”
While Bleacher Report liked the team’s moves, the Falcons will have to produce before those around the league truly start to buy in.
“If those young pass-rushers can get home with any regularity, the Falcons have the talent on the back end to outperform this ranking,” added Davenport. “But if the team struggles rushing the passer again in 2025, it’s going to be another long year for the defense.”
When a team struggles to pressure opposing quarterbacks the way Atlanta has in recent years, it’s hard to blame any analyst for taking a wait-and-see approach.
Around Falcons Wire
- Falcons 53-man roster prediction
- Top remaining NFL free agents
- Falcons 2025 strength of schedule
- NFL.com flames Falcons draft class
- Cobee Bryant: Impact player for ATL?
- Xavier Watts: A “perfect” fit in ATL
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons defense ranked among NFL’s worst in post-draft rankings
