Falcons 2025 NFL draft grades: What did ESPN, PFF and NFL.com say?
The Atlanta Falcons are happy with their 2025 NFL draft haul, but analysts around the league seem to be split. Whenever a team makes a bold move, as the Falcons did by trading up for Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr., opinions are going to vary.
General manager Terry Fontenot's approach reflected that of a man who knows he must win to keep his job beyond next season. Having a win-now approach didn't bother a Falcons fan base that's desperate to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season.
Let's take a look at what the top NFL analysts around the country had to say about the Falcons' 2025 draft class.
Pro Football Focus draft grade: A-
"Walker brings natural athleticism at off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, providing a versatile defender to a Falcons defense in need of impact playmakers," PFF writes. "Atlanta ranked 31st in pass-rush win rate (34.2%) and 29th in total quarterback pressures (230) in 2024, likely resulting in Walker finding a home on the edge."
ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.) draft grade: C
"The Falcons used their first four picks on the defensive side of the ball for the first time since 2009," wrote Kiper. "I just wish one of them went to the cornerback group and maybe one of them was directed at defensive tackle. But the real hit -- the key reason I gave Atlanta this "C" -- was trading away the 2026 first-rounder."
NFL.com draft grade: B-
"The Falcons did not mess around when it came to addressing their pass rush need, getting good value in Walker at No. 15 and taking a chance on Pearce's upside later in Round 1," wrote NFL.com's Chad Reuter. "The risk of giving up a 2026 first-rounder to trade up for Pearce was somewhat mitigated by receiving a 2025 third-rounder in return. They met a huge need with the selection of the ballhawking Watts in Round 3."
CBS Sports draft grade: B-
"General manager Terry Fontenot has no chill -- he didn't just avoid picking an offensive skill-position player in Round 1; he doubled dipped at edge rusher that included a massive trade up for the uber-talented James Pearce Jr.," wrote CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso. "Watts is about as high floor as a deep safety prospect can get, and Bowman is boom or bust. He's a madman carrying out a variety of defensive back roles, but seemingly misses every other tackle attempt and has a tiny frame."
Touchdown Wire draft grade: B-
"Had the Falcons just traded back into the first round for James Pearce, fine," wrote Jarrett Bailey. "Unfortunately for them, they gave up their 2026 first-round pick to do so, which is like paying $37 for a bottle of Smart Water. Pearce may end up being a good NFL player, but needlessly giving up a future first-round pick knocks their grade down substantially, which is a shame because Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman were both good value picks, and Jalon Walker will likely be pretty good."
College Football News draft rank: 4th
"It's all about the pass rushers," wrote CFN's Pete Fiutak. "The Falcons needed them, they traded away next year's No. 1 to get Tennessee's James Pearce to go along with 15th overall pick Jalon Walker, and now the problem is solved ... maybe. There were only five picks, but between those two pass rushers, a whopper of a steal of Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts in the third, Oklahoma safety Billy bowman in the fourth, and a wonderful under-the-radar grab of Wisconsin OT Jack Nelson in the seventh, every pick was a great idea."
Make sure to check out our Falcons post-draft starting lineup projections on offense and defense!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Tuli Tuipulotu in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 49 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we look at former USC All-American defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu. Position: Defensive line Years played at USC: 2020-2022 Career highlights: Tuipulotu emerged as an immediate contributor on USC's defensive line as a true freshman in 2020. That year, he played alongside his older brother, Marlon. With Marlon off to the NFL in 2021, the younger Tuipulotu stepped up to help fill the void, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. In 2022, however, Tuipulotu took things to an entirely new level. That season, he recorded a remarkable 13.5 sacks, the most of any player in the country. In addition, he had 46 total tackles and two forced fumbles. Tuipulotu was named a Unanimous All-American and won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Morris Trophy (given to the top lineman in the Pac-12 Conference, and the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award. After USC: Following the 2022 season, Tuipulotu declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, where the Los Angeles Chargers selected him in the second round. It has not taken Tuipulotu long to emerge as a star at the professional level. After being named the PFWA All-Rookie team in 2023, he followed it up with an 8.5-sack campaign in 2024. Still just 22 years old, Tuipulotu appears to be one of the league's brightest young stars on the defensive line.
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Grady Jarrett (No. 17)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up at No. 17 is defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who will serve a key role along the defensive interior and as a leader. Background Position: Defensive tackle Age: 32 Experience: 11th season 2025 cap hit: $7 million 2024 recap Grady Jarrett played his first 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after being selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. During his career, Jarrett has been a model of consistency, production, hard work and leadership. He's also overcome his share of adversity, including suffering a season-ending knee injury that cut his 2023 season way short. Jarrett made his return to the gridiron in 2024, and he once again showed why he's a vital member of that Falcons defensive line, even if he wasn't as dominant as he was before his ACL injury. Last season, Jarrett started in all 17 games and totaled 53 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 12 QB hits. Jarrett was a surprising roster cut just ahead of free agency, and he was well-respected and beloved by coaches and teammates. But ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Falcons offered a new deal to Jarrett to keep him in Atlanta, but Jarrett opted to test the free agent market. The Falcons ultimately saved $16 million in salary cap space. 2025 outlook Shortly after Jarrett was released by the Falcons, the Bears wasted no time signing him to a three-year, $43.5 million deal to anchor the interior defensive line. Jarrett comes to Chicago with a wealth of knowledge and experience that will make him a vital mentor for young players, including Gervon Dexter Sr., as well as his proven track record as a run defender and interior pass rusher. Jarrett was the first addition for new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who witnessed Jarrett up close during his time with the New Orleans Saints and played the Falcons twice a year. Jarrett is expected to start along the interior, alongside Dexter, to anchor a defensive line that will be key to the defense's success. While Dexter had a down year in 2024, coming off a torn ACL, another year of rest and rehab on that knee should have the soon-to-be 32-year old veteran primed to contribute in a big way in 2025. Big question: What will be Jarrett's impact on defense? The Bears committed significant resources to an aging veteran defensive tackle who's less than two years removed from a torn ACL, so they're banking on an impact -- both production-wise and from a leadership standpoint. Jarrett is a former All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler that figures to be a valuable contributor in Dennis Allen's aggressive defense. Jarrett developed into one of the game's best interior defenders, and Chicago needs that along their defensive line. He's expected to start along the interior with third-year pro Gervon Dexter Sr. with Andrew Billings rotating in. While Jarrett has proven himself as a dominant run defender and interior pass rusher -- something the Bears hope translates -- his value as a leader is just as important. The Bears have some young players along the defensive line, including Dexter, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker and rookie Shemar Turner, and Jarrett will be key to their continued development. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Netflix documentary highlights what the Steelers are missing at quarterback
2025 will mark the fifth-straight season the Pittsburgh Steelers will open the year with a different starting quarterback. Pittsburgh has been wandering around in the dark since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger at the end of the 2021 season and the team's latest attempt is an aging Aaron Rodgers on a one-year contract to try to get the Steelers back into the playoffs. But after watching the second season of Netflix's Quarterback, it's pretty clear where the Steelers are missing the mark when it comes to finding their franchise quarterback. In case you didn't know, Quarterback follows the lives of three NFL quarterbacks both on and off the field. Detroit's Jared Goff, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, and Atlanta's Kirk Cousins are this season's lineup, and as a Steeler fan watching it, you really have mixed emotions. It's easy to root against a guy like Burrow on the field because he's so talented but in watching his interviews and his interactions, you can understand why his teammates play so hard for him and why the Bengals are one of the best teams in the AFC. The same goes for Goff and the turnaround the Lions have made since bringing him in. He's a leader and the entire city has rallied around him as the Lions have grown into an NFL contender. Even Cousins and his struggles with his injury and subsequent situation with the Falcons don't dissuade us from believing he would be the guy in Pittsburgh had they tried to trade for him this offseason. Meanwhile, the Steelers try to cobble together a serviceable offense, but they are hoping the scheme and philosophy can overcome a lack of talent and heart, and it just doesn't work. Even if Rodgers somehow gets the Steelers their first playoff win since 2016, it will be a fleeting victory because he will be gone and the Steelers will be back to square one in 2026. Steeler Nation got spoiled with the stability and consistency Roethlisberger provided, and those qualities are so clear in the quarterbacks in the documentary; it really shows where the Steelers continue to fall short.
