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Who Did the Atlanta Falcons Draft?

In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected …

• Jalon Walker | LB
• James Pearce Jr. | EDGE
• Xavier Watts | S
• Billy Bowman Jr. | S
• Jack Nelson | OT

Grading the Falcons NFL Draft

Atlanta Falcons | Draft Grade: C+

I want to be clear: I loved the picks that Atlanta made, and I love the immediate-help talent they brought in at positions of pressing need. But I could not in good conscience grade them any higher than this after the reckless squandering of their 2026 first-round pick in order to acquire EDGE James Pearce Jr. (who, granted, is a perfect fit).

Pearce’s calling cards are vicious acceleration and speed off the edge—he ran a 4.47 40 at 245 pounds wearing a performance hoodie at the NFL Combine!—with Gumby-like bend. The past two seasons, Pearce generated pressure on 107 of 500 pass-rushing snaps (21.4%). 

Overall, I really liked Atlanta’s haul. And the Falcons are indisputably better today than they were a week ago. But GM Terry Fontenot has put the organization right up there on the tight rope with him in sacrificing next year’s Round 1 pick. That was a steal-for-the-future measure from a man who won’t see it if Atlanta doesn’t contend next season.

With only five picks and big needs on defense, the Falcons did not draft any skill players to add to a unit that is pretty well-stocked.

H2: More 2025 NFL Draft Grades By Team

• Arizona Cardinals Draft Grade
• Atlanta Falcons Draft Grade
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