The Atlanta Falcons need to find more stars for DC Jeff Ulbrich, and they found one while stopping a major 2025 NFL Draft slide
There was no questioning what the goal was for the Atlanta Falcons heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. With quarterback Michael Penix Jr. already in place, along with a lot of skill position talent, defense was the name of the game for head coach Raheem Morris and his Falcons staff. They were able to attack […]
There was no questioning what the goal was for the Atlanta Falcons heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. With quarterback Michael Penix Jr. already in place, along with a lot of skill position talent, defense was the name of the game for head coach Raheem Morris and his Falcons staff. They were able to attack that need, and early this past week during the draft.
After the Falcons traded back into the first round, they left that first day with a pair of pass rushers in Jalon Walker (Georgia) and James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee). Atlanta managed to collect just 31 sacks as a team this past season. Their pass rush simply had to get a ton better, and there is no questioning it did with those first two selections. The versatility for both, especially Walker, also stands out.
From there, the remaining priority for the Falcons staff was to find value, and continuing bolstering that defense for their remaining selections. They found that in a big way with the No. 96 overall selection in the third round when Atlanta selected Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. The 5-11, 205-pound defender was coming off of a historic two-year stretch for the Fighting Irish program. During those two seasons, Watts collected 134 total tackles, 13 interceptions, and another 14 pass breakups.
There might not be a better landing spot for Watts, who has chance to line up next to Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III. Known for his combination of ball skills and range, Bates has managed haul in 24 interceptions and breakup another 64 passes during his seven-year career. Along with Watts, that is a potential safety duo with ball skills and instincts for days.
Watts also gets to learn from Bates, who is one of the more intelligent safeties in the entire league. With Bates’ range, it should also allow Watts to play more short zones and break on underneath routes. That is really his strong suit as a football player, using his natural instincts to make big plays.
Coming into the draft, many believed that Watts had a chance to see himself sneak into the top 50 selections. For whatever reason, the former Notre Dame star saw himself suffering a substantial slide. That makes him an outstanding value for a Falcons defense that needs to continue adding impact defenders.
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