Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot should be on the hottest of seats. Atlanta is likely headed toward a fifth straight losing season under his watch, and they are no closer to finding an answer at the most important position in all of sports. Barring a miracle, he should be fired six weeks from now, but it certainly won’t be because of this year’s draft class.
The Falcons did the smart thing with their 15th overall pick. A legitimate top-10 talent fell into their lap, and they didn’t overthink it. They selected Jalon Walker out of Georgia. Walker has dealt with minor injuries since training camp, forcing him to miss time early and start behind the curve, but he’s still recorded five sacks — the most among all rookies — including four in his last four games, along with two forced fumbles.
Atlanta’s next two picks came from a draft-night blockbuster, where they traded their 2026 first-rounder to move back into Round 1 for James Pearce Jr. From the moment he stepped onto an NFL practice field, coaches and teammates were raving about him. It took a few weeks to translate into production, but now he has three sacks and a forced fumble over his last three games, and he leads all rookies in pressure rate.
And the sneaky-good part of that same trade? The Falcons also acquired a 2025 third-rounder, which they used on Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts. He has been a day-one starter next to Jessie Bates III, starting every game and recording three interceptions — the most among rookies.
So if you’re keeping score at home:
Pick 1 — leads all rookies in sacks.
Pick 2 — leads all rookies in pressure rate.
Pick 3 — leads all rookies in interceptions.
.@NFL rookie leaders:
Sacks: Jalon Walker
Interceptions: Xavier Watts
Pressure Rate: James Pearce Jr. pic.twitter.com/BtDj53CwCQ
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 26, 2025
The trio has completely revitalized a unit that has been near the bottom of the league since 2017. It’s one thing Terry Fontenot can hang his hat on at season’s end when he inevitably sits down for what should be a tense meeting with Arthur Blank, who will ultimately have to decide the next steps for the franchise.
—
Photo: Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire
Share The Love