Falcons 2025 mock draft: Filling wants after free company and a commerce

The primary week of NFL free company is behind us. Did the Atlanta Falcons truly enhance within the course of? That’s a little bit of an open query. Atlanta did add quite a few veterans to the roster that solidified a number of positions, whereas shedding their fair proportion of contributors within the course of—most notably, heart Drew Dalman and defensive deal with Grady Jarrett.

Now that we’ve seen the primary spherical of additives and subtractions, it’s the right alternative to do one other full seven-round mock draft for the Falcons. On this mock, I’ll contemplate trades for the primary time as nicely. It’s a bit simpler to undertaking now that we’ve seen the place the most important dominoes have fallen, and it’s additionally one thing that Atlanta is very seemingly to think about as a result of their lack of draft capital.

Earlier than we leap in to the mock, let’s check out the Falcons’ present haul of draft picks. Now that the compensatory picks have formally been awarded, this ought to be the ultimate placement for these picks.

What are the Falcons present 2025 NFL Draft picks?

• Spherical 1, Choose 15
• Spherical 2, Choose 46
• Spherical 4, Choose 116
• Spherical 7, Choose 218 (from Chargers)
• Spherical 7, Choose 242 (from Rams)

That is the written model, however it’s also possible to discover the mock draft in two alternate varieties as nicely. On our YouTube channel:

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Earlier mock drafts: First version | Publish-Mix | Publish-Free Company

TRADE — Spherical 1, Choose 22: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

Falcons commerce choose 15 and choose 242 (seventh) to the Chargers for picks 22, 86 (third), and 125 (4th).

The easy reality is that the Falcons want picks, they usually want them badly. This draft has a variety of depth within the center rounds that Atlanta desperately wants for the lengthy haul. That leads me to consider the crew might be attempting very laborious to commerce down, and could be prepared to take barely under market worth to assist facilitate it. The Chargers are in dire want of one other high receiver and face a dicey state of affairs between picks 15 and 22. These receivers might go fast, and if Los Angeles has a transparent favourite, leaping up with Atlanta might make a variety of sense for either side. So Atlanta accepts a 3rd and a fourth to maneuver right down to 22.

Fortunately, this class is deep within the positions of want for Atlanta: defensive position and defensive again. Malaki Starks wound up going at choose 21, so the Falcons pivot to one among my favourite edge rushers on the board: Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton. All of the hype is presently on Shemar Stewart because of his ludicrous athletic testing, however Scourton is the higher participant proper now. If not for a down 12 months enjoying 20 kilos too heavy in 2024, Scourton would possibly nonetheless be talked about as a top-20 choose.

Scourton’s 2023 season at Purdue confirmed off who he actually is: an skilled go rusher with a deep bag of strikes and an awesome really feel for the place. I feel he’s athlete when enjoying at his extra pure weight of 260, and that’s the place I’d hold him. Scourton isn’t the most important or longest (6’3, 33” arms), however his rush repertoire mitigates these issues. I’d wish to see Scourton develop into a extra constant run defender, however I feel he’s a a lot better go rusher than the consensus believes and worth right here at 22.

Spherical 2, Choose 46: SAF Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

Whereas Atlanta missed out on Malaki Starks within the first spherical, they get the following finest prospect in Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts. Watts turned in an elite 2024 season which noticed him submit six interceptions, 5 PBUs, and a ridiculous 30.1 passer score allowed in protection. Watts checks the dimensions packing containers for an NFL security at almost 6’ and over 200 kilos, and he’s obtained stable size as nicely. He’s an elite protection participant who excels in man when known as upon, enjoying almost 400 snaps within the slot over the previous two seasons.

Watts is a ballhawk above all else, as his numbers attest. He’s an elite processor with high-level instincts who’s at all times discovering a means into the motion. His tackling was problematic in previous seasons, however he did look loads higher in run help this 12 months. Watts’ aggressiveness can generally get him into bother, resulting in some “increase or bust” moments on the sector. Even nonetheless, he’s trending in the best course and put in a variety of effort to enhance his largest weak spot (tackling) in 2024. I really like his trajectory and assume he might find yourself being a superb long-term associate for Jessie Bates.

Spherical 3, Choose 86: C Jared Wilson, Georgia

Choose acquired from Chargers.

With the Falcons shedding Drew Dalman in free company, the middle place has all of a sudden develop into a difficulty. The crew appears fairly snug with former UDFA Ryan Neuzil taking up, however that doesn’t really feel like a long-term resolution. Because of the commerce down with the Chargers, Atlanta truly can tackle the middle place with a very talked-about choose: Georgia’s Jared Wilson.

Wilson was a one-year starter for the Bulldogs who impressed after taking up for the stalwart Sedrick Van Pran-Granger. That season appeared like it will be sufficient to get Wilson drafted on Day 3 because of his potential, however a head-turning Mix efficiency has nearly definitely lifted him into Day 2 consideration. Wilson completed with an elite 9.98 RAS and a few of the most spectacular athletic testing from any offensive lineman within the class. He’s obtained good measurement at 6’3, 310 and turned in some elite go blocking grades on PFF, permitting zero sacks and simply six complete pressures on 810 snaps.

Wilson isn’t anyplace close to the run blocker than Drew Dalman was, and that appears to be his largest weak spot heading into the NFL. He must get stronger and proceed to realize expertise, however Wilson has super potential in a zone blocking scheme because of his athleticism. He appears to be like like an ideal slot in Atlanta’s offense and a logical long-term alternative for Dalman who can carry higher go blocking to the desk.

Spherical 4, Choose 118: DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon

The Falcons elect to attend on including an inside defender, however the wait pays off with probably the most attention-grabbing nostril deal with prospects within the class: Oregon’s Jamaree Caldwell. A giant winner from the Senior Bowl, Caldwell has risen up draft boards because of a powerful ultimate season. Caldwell has a really perfect construct for a nostril deal with at 6’2 and over 330, though his size is under threshold at simply 32”. I feel he’s truly an ideal match as a 4-3 NT, which I count on to see the Falcons deploy much more underneath Jeff Ulbrich.

The place Caldwell stands out is together with his fast ft and preliminary go off the road of scrimmage. Alongside together with his run-stuffing prowess, he truly presents disruption as a go rusher and better-than-expected pursuit potential. Caldwell managed a powerful 9.3% go rush win fee and batted down 4 passes. His size limitations do put a cap on his ceiling, however I feel Caldwell may be an efficient rotational participant for an NFL protection who’s greater than only a area eater.

Spherical 4, Choose 125: CB Alijah Huzzie, North Carolina

Choose acquired from Chargers.

The Falcons nonetheless haven’t addressed their slot emptiness in free company, and that’s somewhat regarding to me. Both they consider totally in Natrone Brooks (who I like!), or they’re hoping to search out somebody within the NFL Draft. There are variety of good slot gamers on this class, on Day 3 I like what I’ve seen from North Carolina’s Alijah Huzzie.

Huzzie impressed on the Shrine Bowl, greater than holding his personal in opposition to a tricky group of receivers. Whereas he performed the 2024 season on the skin, he began all of 2023 within the slot and put collectively some nice tape there. Huzzie is undersized at 5’10, 193 and with underneath 30” arms, there’s no denying that. However he’s a feisty participant who doesn’t draw back from contact, and will carve out a task as a slot defender within the NFL. Huzzie is a ballhawk (11 PBUs and 1 INT in 2024, 3 INT in 2023, and 6 INT in 2022) and is a harmful participant in each man and zone protection. I feel he’d be an awesome add to the slot competitors in 2025.

Spherical 7, Choose 218: OT Hollin Pierce, Rutgers

Choose acquired from Chargers.

As of now, the Falcons nonetheless haven’t prolonged Kaleb McGary. That’s one of many crew’s finest avenues for wage cap area in 2025. It’s too early to assume a lot of it, however on the very least it most likely indicators some long-term uneasiness with McGary’s potential to guard Michael Penix’s blindside. Whereas McGary has made strides to turning into a median go protector over the previous two seasons, he’s nonetheless simply that. Atlanta appears to be pivoting to a give attention to the passing recreation, so transferring on from McGary could be a future consideration.

In that case, the Falcons have to load up on developmental tackles within the hopes of unearthing a starter over the following season or two. Rutgers’ Hollin Pierce is without doubt one of the most attention-grabbing within the class. An absolute mountain at 6’8, 344 an with 36” (!!) arms, he’s one of many largest gamers within the class…interval. He truly strikes pretty nicely for his measurement and carried out nicely in zone blocking ideas, however he’s obtained a variety of room for development. Pierce did enhance considerably in his ultimate season and appears the a part of an ideal late spherical stash for the Falcons who simply would possibly repay in a number of years.

What do you concentrate on this potential draft class for the Falcons? Depart your draft takes within the feedback under!