Xavier Watts, Atlanta Falcons
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Safety Xavier Watts for the Atlanta Falcons.
The Atlanta Falcons will be working with limited picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, having only five total. So, needless to say, they better make them count.
Atlanta will be without its first-round selection this year (No. 13 overall) after trading for what became the No. 26 overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams last year. That pick was used to select edge rusher James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee.
There’s now a chance Pearce may not even be on the team, either due to suspension or potential jail time, as he is currently facing five felony charges following a domestic incident involving his ex-girlfriend, Rickea Jackson.
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That situation has likely disrupted the Falcons’ draft plans, especially considering they used a first-round pick on him just last year. And the pick worked — Pearce became one of the best rookies in the 2025 class, racking up 10.5 sacks.
But he wasn’t the only rookie who showed up for Atlanta. Their third-round selection at No. 96 overall, Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, proved nearly just as important.
Falcons Could Look to Notre Dame Again in 2026 NFL Draft
Many believed Watts was a steal from the moment the Falcons selected him. He backed that up during the season.
In his rookie campaign, Watts recorded five interceptions, 11 pass deflections and one fumble recovery.
Although that was under a different regime in Atlanta, the new front office and coaching staff may want to take a look at another Notre Dame prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to The Athletic’s Josh Kendall.
Kendall projects the Falcons selecting Fighting Irish wide receiver Malachi Fields in the fourth round at No. 135 overall.
“If the Falcons get Fields in the fourth round, it would be a coup along the lines of getting safety Xavier Watts in the third round last year,” Kendall wrote.
“Even if Atlanta gets a bounce-back season from Darnell Mooney in 2026, it needs more depth at receiver. The team’s non-Drake London receivers had 75 catches for 892 yards last year. The No. 3 wide receiver was David Sills V, who totaled just 18 catches for 191 yards.”
This isn’t even factoring in the possibility that Atlanta could lose tight end Kyle Pitts to free agency.
Malachi Fields Could Add Needed Depth to Falcons Offense
Fields spent four seasons at Virginia before transferring to Notre Dame last season. He didn’t match the 800-plus yards he posted in each of his previous two seasons with the Cavaliers, but he still recorded 630 yards while averaging 17.5 yards per reception and matching his career-high five touchdowns.
The Falcons can’t continue relying solely on Drake London as their primary pass catcher. The same goes for Bijan Robinson making plays out of the backfield. While both are elite playmakers, whoever lines up at quarterback in 2026 will need another viable option in critical situations.
That became a real issue last year, especially for Michael Penix Jr. in his first season as a starting quarterback. If he remains the future at the position, he’s going to need more help on the outside to stretch the field.
Fields could be that option.
It worked last year with a Notre Dame defensive player. Maybe it works again this year with an offensive one.