Former Sooners star can immediately help fix his NFL team’s woeful decision from the past couple of years as a rookie
The Oklahoma Sooners lost multiple defensive pieces during the 2025 NFL Draft, including a fan favorite in defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. when he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta's secondary desperately needed more potential upside and depth entering this offseason. Falcons' lack of urgency to add in the secondary recently When it comes […]
The Oklahoma Sooners lost multiple defensive pieces during the 2025 NFL Draft, including a fan favorite in defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. when he was selected by the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta's secondary desperately needed more potential upside and depth entering this offseason.
Falcons' lack of urgency to add in the secondary recently
When it comes to free agency this offseason, ATL was not particularly active in adding secondary help. Their only cornerback signing that was somewhat notable was Keith Taylor Jr., who isn't close to a starting-caliber player.
At safety, Justin Simmons has not been brought back, and his play last season did not prove that he should be, either. Simmons struggled in 2024, even while playing beside one of the top safeties in football in Jessie Bates. Simmons was rated as the 113th safety in the NFL last season, among 171 players at the position.
Plug in Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts in 2025. Both rookies may play impactful roles in year one for Atlanta, simply due to need and their readiness for the pro level.
Bowman's potential impact as a rookie
I discussed the possible role and effectiveness for Bowman with fellow A to Z Sports contributor Justin Churchill, who saw plenty of Bowman's game during his days in Norman.
A four-star recruit out of high school, Billy Bowman was a two-way star before committing to Oklahoma, which is a big reason he has the ball skills he does have as a safety. Bowman played a ton of football his first two years at Oklahoma, but in his 2023 season, that's when he really started to become the player that he is today. He started all 13 games and finished the year with six interceptions, which was second nationally, and had three of them returned for touchdowns—a school record. He added 63 tackles, three tackles for loss, and four pass breakups, earning first-team All-American and All-Big 12 honors.
That would be the season that really put everyone on to what Bowman was, especially guys in the NFL waiting for the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, Bowman's teammate, Danny Stutsman, got drafted just six picks before Bowman, but you could make the case that Bowman was the best player on the defense. Both played the role of a leader while at OU, but Bowman was the guy making all of the flashy plays.
In 2024, his final season, Bowman started all 12 regular-season games, skipping the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft. He had 54 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown), and three pass breakups, earning All-SEC Third Team honors. Over his career, he totaled 199 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 14 pass breakups.
He is seen as a guy who will contribute to what the Atlanta Falcons already have on their roster. But, for anyone who has actually watched him play the last few years, it's evident that he could really make an impact on this team. Playing next to Jessie Bates will be awesome, and they need a guy like Bowman next to him, a younger guy who has elite speed and can even get down on the line to play the slot if needed.
For Bowman, he has all of the tools to be great. He's versatile in that he can guard tight ends fairly well, wide receivers, and play the slot, but also he can roam the field and be that center fielder if they needed him to. Bowan has star potential, and when you watch the tape and see the tools he has, it's undeiable that he can be a very good football player.
I guess the biggest thing for him is just getting a chance. That, and his smaller frame will be what keeps him from getting on the field, but the skills, tools, IQ, and determination are things that make him ready to play as a rookie. We've all heard the stories about him carrying around a binder at Oklahoma to every single class and anywhere he went, that was filled with the playbook and other things that he needed to study, all color coordinated and organized.
There's no body that wants to be great more than Bowman, and if he gets the chance this Falcons secondary could really become one of the better units in the league.
— Justin Churchill
Atlanta's pass defense a season ago allowed the second-most passing touchdowns in the NFL. Only the NFC South foe Carolina Panthers allowed more. That cannot happen again for Raheem Morris' squad.
Bowman's versatility, effort, and energy can earn him a role as a rookie. If he can make plays this season, the Falcons defense can make a noticeable step forward in the secondary – undoubtedly.
