Fox Sports’ NFL reporter Greg Auman dropped an interesting nugget this week: out of all 32 teams, only eight saw every single 2025 draft pick survive roster cuts and make the initial 53-man roster.
One of those teams? The Atlanta Falcons and their litter of five rookies.
For a refresher, Atlanta’s five draft picks
were:
- Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker (Round 1, Pick 15)
- Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr. (Round 1, Pick 26 via trade w/ LAR)
- Notre Dame S Xavier Watts (Round 3, Pick 96)
- Oklahoma S Billy Bowman (Round 4, Pick 118)
- Wisconsin OT Jack Nelson (Round 7, Pick 218)
Here’s the thing, though, if not for brutal injury luck on the right side of the offensive line, Atlanta probably wouldn’t be on this list. That reality tells us something: this team is leaning on its rookies to contribute right now, especially on a defense that’s ranked 23rd or worse in points allowed five of the last seven seasons.
Walker and Pearce Jr. are expected to inject life into a pass rush that’s been historically nonexistent. Watts and Bowman are already penciled in as starters in a secondary that features Second-Team All-Pros Jessie Bates and A.J. Terrell. And Nelson, despite an uneven preseason, will almost certainly be called upon to contribute in some fashion until Storm Norton returns from injury.
Since taking over in 2021, GM Terry Fontenot has been…let’s call it inconsistent when it comes to hitting on draft picks. But this year? With his job on the line, he’s betting big on a rookie class that has to perform immediately if Atlanta wants to clear .500 and sniff the playoffs.
What could go wrong?
