The Atlanta Falcons, riding a wave of momentum into their bye week after a massive victory, are garnering attention for their offensive stars like quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and running back Bijan Robinson. However, the real story of the team’s transformation lies in the dedicated effort by the front office and coaching staff to address the long-standing weakness of their pass rush and overall defense. This focus on defense, particularly through the 2025 NFL Draft, is proving to be the move of the year. Not just for Atlanta, but for perhaps the entire NFL.
The pre-season narrative was consumed by discussions around Penix Jr.’s development and the trade status of Kirk Cousins, completely overlooking the Falcons’ strategic commitment to their defense. That commitment has manifested in a rookie class that is immediately impactful. The team’s four key defensive rookies (edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., defensive backs Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman) all rank in the top 30 among first-year players in defensive splash plays, a wide-ranging category that tracks plays like sacks, quarterback pressures, and forced turnovers (per The Athletic). Pearce leads all rookies in splash play percentage, impacting nearly 15% of his snaps, while Watts and Bowman have already earned starting roles.
Assistant general manager Kyle Smith’s bold pre-draft projection that the team might have picked four immediate starters is being realized (per the Athletic). Although first-round picks Walker and Pearce are technically not starting, their snap counts are nearly equal to those of veteran edge rushers (again, per The Athletic), and their on-field impact is even more significant than their impressive stats suggest. They are already forcing opposing offensive coordinators to alter game plans with their versatility and disruptiveness. Veterans on the team, like safety Jessie Bates, have praised the mental processing and progress of the rookies.
This defensive improvement represents a massive, and still growing, leap forward for the team. The Falcons team-building approach is clearly working spectacularly. This is compounded by the fact that the Falcons’ 2024 defensive selections, such as Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus, are also now coming into their own. Falcons coach Raheem Morris sees a direct comparison to his experience with the Los Angeles Rams, who built a top-ranked defense through consecutive strong defensive drafts.
Taking anecdotes aside, even the data shows that the improvement is drastic. The Falcons have gone from ranking near the bottom of the league in defensive Expected Points Added (EPA) in 2024, with a negative EPA:
to ranking in the upper third of the league in 2025 with a positive EPA.
This is a massive leap that few teams achieve without blockbuster free-agent signings. While the team will inevitably face some volatility due to its youth, this core is talented, athletic, and poised to get better every week. With Michael Penix Jr. potentially locking down the quarterback position for the next decade and a talented offensive roster already in place, the addition of this young, formidable defensive front and secondary makes the Falcons one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the entire NFL, not just the NFC South. They are rapidly becoming a formidable contender for years to come.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
