The Atlanta Falcons did all the right things in the 2025 NFL Draft, focusing entirely on the defensive side of the ball. It started in the first round when Jalon Walker unexpectedly fell to them, and continued when they traded for James Pearce, who has done nothing but impress since arriving.
General Manager Terry Fontenot has already begun comparing Walker to some of the best pass rushers in the NFL—one of those being Micah Parsons, a star expected to land a massive deal in the near future.
“The way he plays. The physicality. The toughness. The instincts. It all screams off the tape. … And he’s such a versatile piece that he can play on the edge. He can play stack. He can rush from any area on the field,” Fontenot said.
With the defense being so young, veteran safety Jessie Bates will need to take on a major leadership and mentorship role.
“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 the offensive side, this could be the Falcons’ most promising year in a while, with Michael Penix Jr. leading the charge. PFSN’s Owain Jones believes that one of Atlanta’s undrafted wide receivers could even be in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
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“Nick Nash joins the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Nevertheless, his college production and athletic traits could have an instant impact on the passing offense in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Nash led all college football receivers in receiving yards and touchdowns with the San Jose State Spartans in 2024, accumulating 1,382 yards and 16 touchdowns,” Jones wrote.
This is high praise, but Nash has already outproduced notable names like Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan at the college level. He has the potential to make a significant impact on Atlanta’s young and dynamic offense.
