The Atlanta Falcons, gearing up for training camp and riding high on offseason optimism, may have uncovered one of the biggest steals of 2025. While most have focused on the team’s main draft selections and key free-agent signings, it’s an undrafted rookie making waves in the front seven.
Despite going undrafted, Simeon Barrow Jr comes with an impressive pedigree as one of the most disruptive interior rushers in the 2025 class. According to SI.com, his athletic profile is elite. He earned a remarkable 9.05 out of 10 Relative Athletic Score (RAS). He earned a reputation for collapsing pockets and wreaking havoc on offenses during his final season in college at Miami.
The excitement around Barrow isn’t just preseason optimism. Analyzing his performance side by side with his 2025 draft class peers shows just how valuable this pickup could be. Compare Barrow to first-rounder Tyleik Williams, fourth-rounder Tonka Hemingway, and fifth-rounder Yahya Black, and you can see why the Falcons are excited by this young playmaker:
When it comes to on-field production, Barrow again shines. He tallied more combined pressures and stops than Williams, Hemingway, and Black.
The combination of elite athleticism and top notch production is uncommon in any draft pick, let alone an undrafted free agent. Barrow is clearly set apart as a rare find. From an economic perspective, Atlanta added a player who outperformed early- and mid-round picks at zero draft-day cost.
The Falcons struggled mightily with pass rush and tackling last season, ranking 30th in the NFL in pass rush grade and among the bottom in tackling efficiency (according to PFF). These happen to be Barrow’s strengths. He brings a proven knack for getting after the pass rusher and recording a tackling grade of 68.5 last year, solid for his position, with few missed tackles.
Barrow’s resume also boasts another important trait: versatility. He started games at left end, nose tackle, and defensive tackle during the 2024 season. That versatility will no doubt play a big part in his potential playing time in Atlanta. His experience transferring from Michigan State to Miami also will serve him well. Transferring successfully reveals a mental toughness and ability to thrive amid change, key for any rookie adjusting to NFL life.
His consistency is remarkable as well. Across four straight seasons, Barrow logged more than 400 snaps each year, and each season he earned a PFF overall grade of 71.5 or better.
In a training camp full of competition, Barrow stands out as a player to watch. Atlanta desperately needs improved play up front, and Barrow’s blend of production, athleticism, and versatility makes him one of the more intriguing rookie storylines as the preseason begins. Simeon Barrow Jr. may have arrived in Atlanta under the radar, but he’ll be hard to ignore once the games begin. Data, film, and on-field results point to a player who could become a key piece of the Falcons’ defensive resurgence.
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.
