Before we start this exercise, close your eyes…well, read this first, and then close your eyes. Who are your top ten players for the Atlanta Falcons right now? Obviously, there’s the trio of Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London that should be locks, but who else makes the cut? Jessie Bates is a lock as well, but there’s not a lot of room left for some pretty good players that don the red and black right now. Xavier Watts and A.J. Terrell were both recognized as the top 99 defensive players.
That’s already six slots looked to be taken up. Who is going to fill those last four as we find the top ten Falcons in Bleacher Report’s 1000-player NFL ranking?
Let us know in the comments if you think Bleacher Report got it right, and if they didn’t, who should be recognized as a top ten Falcon right now.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Grade: 94, Rank: 6, Tier: Franchise Cornerstones
Bijan Robinson is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He is the engine and best player on the Atlanta Falcons offense. Robinson is a natural, elite ball carrier with a strong impact in the passing game as a receiver. He accounted for 2,298 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns. Robinson is a game-changing player who elevates the offense. His vision, elusiveness, stop/start ability, and burst make him one of the most difficult offensive weapons to defend in the league. Robinson’s pass protection is an issue. He allowed over 10 pressures and three sacks last season. He prefers to lunge or throw a shoulder at incoming defenders. Robinson’s pass-protection technique must improve.
Jessie Bates, S, Grade: 91, Rank: 25, Tier: All-Pro Ability
Jesse Bates sees things before they happen and shows up exactly where he needs to be to make the play. It’s like watching Mysterio fighting Spider-Man, always appearing in places the quarterback doesn’t want him to be and taking the ball away. Bates is one of the prominent ball-hawks in today’s game, and he seamlessly rotates all around the back end, handling a ton of mental responsibilities. He played closer to the line of scrimmage last season than ever before and played fast, took away underneath routes, and helped condense the offense. A continually impressive player continues an impressive career.
Drake London, WR, Grade: 85, Rank: 71, Tier: Pro-Bowl Caliber
Drake London is one of the league’s better young wide receivers. He has never played with a top-shelf quarterback in the NFL during his career, yet he consistently puts up good numbers. He’s held back by that uncertainty with the Falcons quarterback situation. London is an uber-efficient route-runner with strong footwork and use of hands to fend off bump-and-run coverage. He’s the prototypical X-receiver, but he plays all over the formation, forcing advantageous matchups. London isn’t in the elite tier of No. 1 receivers in the league, but with better quarterback play, he will enter the conversation.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Grade: 81, Rank: 112, Tier: High-Quality Starter
Kyle Pitts had some truly lofty expectations to live up to coming out of Florida, and 2025 was an offensive explosion for the fifth-year tight end. He set career highs in targets, receptions, and touchdowns while playing over 200 snaps more than any previous year of his career. Pitts showed growth in nuance in route running, using more speed dilation and deception to get into space while still showcasing his top-tier athletic ability after the catch. He’s a true three-level weapon, and the Falcons use him as such to maximize their passing attack. While Pitts isn’t a game-changer as a run blocker and doesn’t show the effort all the time, his power at the point of attack has improved, and on the move, he can be useful. But he’s out there for one reason: to be a match-up problem.
A.J. Terrell, CB, Grade: 81, Rank: 121, Tier: High-Quality Starter
One of the more underrated corners in the NFL, AJ Terrell is a technician on the outside who forced tight-window throws at the fourth-highest rate in the league last season. He mirrors well, attacks the catch point consistently, and is a willing and able run supporter. Bigger route-runners with a good catch radius take advantage of the space he gives them in off coverage, but he closes and uses leverage well. He doesn’t create a ton of turnovers, but still gets his hands on the football a lot.
Xavier Watts, S, Grade: 81, Rank: 124, Tier: High-Quality Starter
Xavier Watts deserved a stronger push for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025. He makes up half of the best safety duo in the league with Jessie Bates, allowed Bates to roam closer to the line of scrimmage, and helped unlock the defense and create turnovers. Watts had five interceptions and 11 passes broken up as a rookie, was a plus run defender from depth, and, while there were some lapses, he showed the ability to recover not just physically but also mentally. He didn’t look like a rookie out there; he handled more rotations, living on top of the defense, and the NFL stage like he was meant to be there.
Chris Lindstrom, G, Grade: 76, Rank: 237, Tier: Critical Roster Piece
Lindstrom remained one of the league’s most durable and dangerous run-blocking guards in 2025, but Atlanta’s schematic shift over the last two seasons made his pass-protection limitations more visible. With the Falcons using far less play-action and exposing the line to more true dropback reps, Lindstrom’s lighter frame and tardier anchor were stressed more often against high-end power. He remains an elite zone run-blocker, winning with rare quickness, leverage, leg drive and strain to reach landmarks, steer defenders and finish at angles most guards cannot access. The contrast is in pass protection, where his profile carries more variance. Lindstrom relies heavily on jump-sets and first meaningful contact to erase rushers’ runway before they can build force, a strategy that is more forgiving off play-action than in static dropback situations. When he lands first, he can still close space and end reps quickly. When he misses or is forced to absorb power late, the losses can be immediate. In the right structure, Lindstrom’s pass protection can play a tier higher, but his current profile is driven by elite run-game value and capped by the volatility of his true pass sets.
Divine Deablo, LB, Grade: 73, Rank: 354, Tier: Reliable Contributor
After flaming out in Las Vegas, Deablo signed with Atlanta last offseason and had a career year. One discernible difference in his play was his instincts against the run, as the former Raider was constantly in the right spot to make tackles for short gains with the Falcons. Also, the college safety finally put it together in coverage on the second level, posting a career high seven passes defended after registering just six in the first four years of his career combined. However, he is still susceptible to the occasional coverage lapse. It will be interesting to see if Deablo can build on a strong campaign and continue to grow in Atlanta.
James Pearce, Jr., EDGE, Grade: 69, Rank: 495, Tier: Functional Performer
Pearce had an impressive rookie campaign as a pass-rusher, notching double-digit sacks with 10.5 in year one. His ability to turn speed to power and use a cross-chop move as a counter keeps offensive tackles on their heels. That, combined with his athleticism and closing speed, gives the Tennessee product a bright future. However, Pearce was a non-factor against the run, and his off-the-field concerns have already surfaced in the NFL.
Jalon Walker, EDGE, Grade: 69, Rank: 504, Tier: Functional Performer
Walker provided plenty of flashes as a pass-rusher during his rookie campaign to suggest he has a bright future, showing off some impressive athleticism and quickness to win around the edge. However, a lot of the 2025 first-round pick’s production came when he was unblocked or via stunts, especially when working against the run. The Georgia product can improve significantly by winning one-on-one opportunities more frequently and making plays on his own. He may have to wait until 2027, however, after suffering an ACL injury during training camp.
