Falcons 2025 NFL draft grades: What did ESPN, PFF and NFL.com say?

USA Today

29-04-2025

Falcons 2025 NFL draft grades: What did ESPN, PFF and NFL.com say? What did NFL analysts say about the Falcons' 2025 draft class?
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!