who did the falcons draft
The Atlanta Falcons’ most recent draft class (2025) was headlined by defensive standouts Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., with both quickly becoming impact players in the pass rush rotation.
Quick Scoop
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Falcons made five total selections after a couple of trades, building heavily around their defense and mid‑round value. Their key moves were:
- Round 1: Jalon Walker, EDGE/linebacker (Georgia) – taken with the 15th overall pick and immediately used as a versatile pass rusher and linebacker.
- Round 1 (via trade up with Rams): James Pearce Jr., EDGE (Tennessee) – Atlanta moved future picks, including their 2026 first‑rounder, to jump back into the first round and get him.
- Additional mid‑round picks (Day 2 and 3) rounded out the class, including defensive backs and other depth pieces, though Walker and Pearce quickly became the faces of the group.
The aggressive trade for Pearce cost Atlanta its 2026 first‑round pick but has been widely framed as worth it because he produced double‑digit sacks as a rookie and helped transform the Falcons’ pass rush from near the bottom of the league to one of its statistical strengths.
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