The Atlanta Falcons defense is playing much better than anybody expected this season. The promotion of Divine Deablo to the green dot role is working wonders, as are the additions of pieces like Cameron Thomas and Gervon Dexter up front.
The back end of Atlanta's defense is not quite as sharp, though. Injuries at cornerback were a huge factor in Sunday night's collapse against the Baltimore Ravens, which will just put more pressure on the Falcons' safety duo of Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts.
This is one of the best safety tandems in the NFL, though, and many analysts expect big things from Watts after a brilliant rookie year.
Before the season began, Seth Walder at ESPN predicted that Watts would earn first or second-team All-Pro honors. In
a new column checking up on those bold preseason predictions, Walder still thinks it's possible, but calls it a long shot.
"Watts has one interception, one forced fumble and a half-sack as part of a Falcons defense that has been better than expected. He has allowed 0.8 yards per coverage snap -- higher than average for a safety, though I don't put a lot of stock in that number for safeties considering the variety and complexity of assignments at that position. This is a long shot, but you never know -- if Watts goes on an interception run, anything could happen."
In some respects, Watts is even better than he was last season in coverage. He's already been targeted 21 times and is allowing five yards fewer per completion than in 2025, along with just one touchdown so far. However, Watts is also allowing a 76.2% completion rate - a big jump from the 60.7% he gave up as a rookie - plus a 93.9 passer rating, about five points higher than last year.
The number people will look at most is the interceptions, which really isn't fair. No stat is more fickle from year to year and expecting Watts to repeat his five-pick performance as a rookie is setting a really high bar when much of that is out of his control.
Turnovers will come and go. What matters for Watts is that he doesn't become a liability in coverage the way some Falcons DBs have.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: ESPN: 'Long shot' for Xavier Watts to earn bold preseason prediction
