Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft Roundup 3.0
Throughout the year and leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, we will update our Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Atlanta Falcons from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Falcons:
15. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
15. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
15. Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
MORE: Continue reading our 2025 Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft Roundup
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2025 NFL Draft Grades: Atlanta Falcons
The 2025 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror, and we have compiled a consensus ranking using NFL draft grades from a variety of sites.
What draft grades have the media given to the Atlanta Falcons? What are they saying about the Falcons' 2025 draft haul?
CBS Sports - Grade: B-
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.
ESPN - Grade: C
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.
MORE: Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL Draft Grades Roundup
Atlanta Falcons 2024 NFL Schedule
Below you will find the weekly regular-season schedule for the Atlanta Falcons.
Week | Date | Opponent | Results |
---|---|---|---|
Week 1 | Sun., Sept. 8 | vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | L 18-10 |
Week 2 | Mon., Sept. 16 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 22-21 |
Week 3 | Sun., Sept. 22 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | L 22-17 |
Week 4 | Sun., Sept. 29 | vs. New Orleans Saints | W 26-24 |
Week 5 | Thu., Oct. 3 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 36-30 (OT) |
Week 6 | Sun., Oct. 13 | at Carolina Panthers | W 38-20 |
Week 7 | Sun., Oct. 20 | vs. Seattle Seahawks | L 34-14 |
Week 8 | Sun., Oct. 27 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 31-26 |
Week 9 | Sun., Nov. 3 | vs. Dallas Cowboys | W 27-21 |
Week 10 | Sun., Nov. 10 | at New Orleans Saints | L 20-17 |
Week 11 | Sun., Nov. 17 | at Denver Broncos | L 38-6 |
Week 12 | BYE | ||
Week 13 | Sun., Dec. 1 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers | L 17-13 |
Week 14 | Sun., Dec. 8 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 42-21 |
Week 15 | Mon., Dec. 16 | at Las Vegas Raiders | W 15-9 |
Week 16 | Sun., Dec. 22 | vs. New York Giants | W 34-7 |
Week 17 | Sun., Dec. 29 | at Washington Commanders | L 30-24 (OT) |
Week 18 | Sun., Jan. 5 | vs. Carolina Panthers | L 44-38 (OT) |
Also, check out the following resources:
Atlanta Falcons - 2025 Draft Results
The table below are all of the 2025 NFL Draft picks selected by the Atlanta Falcons.
Round | Overall | Player | Position | School |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 | Jalon Walker | EDGE | Georgia |
1 | 26 | James Pearce Jr. | EDGE | Tennessee |
3 | 96 | Xavier Watts | S | Notre Dame |
4 | 118 | Billy Bowman Jr. | S | Oklahoma |
7 | 218 | Jack Nelson | OT | Wisconsin |
More: 2025 NFL Draft Results - Atlanta Falcons Draft History