The Falcons selected four defensive players in the NFL Draft, and three of them could potentially be day 1 starters. Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are as close to locked in as starters, but Xavier Watts could join them as starters before the season starts.
Walker and Pearce are both first round picks with very high expectations and are joining a team that lacked depth on the defensive line. They also brought in a couple of safeties with one of them being Watts, who can pair up with Jessie Bates.
Jalon Walker.
Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jalon Walker (11) reacts against the Texas Longhorns.
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Atlanta has missed the playoffs every year since 2017 and has been between the bottom of the rankings and the middle. In 2024 they went 8-9 and missed the Wild Card by a few games.
One of the main issues has been the defense and the lack of depth for years. After the 2024 season, the Falcons did not bring back veterans Matthew Judon or Justin Simmons who both had their least productive seasons in the NFL. That opened up some holes in the defense that needed to be resolved in the offseason and draft.
Three rookies getting a start would be very ideal for a team like Atlanta, who already has a very young core in general. Their offensive big three is consisted of a 25-year-old quarterback and two 23-year-old star skill players in Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
Walker and Pearce look to contribute massively to a defense that was bottom-five in sacks while Watts looks to contribute to a defense that was bottom-five in interceptions. Both of these numbers could increase with how these rookies perform right out the gate.
As the offseason continues with OTA's and training camp around the corner, the Falcons will continue to test out all players to see who will start in 2025.