2025 NFL Draft Grades: How the Atlanta Falcons fared

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons made all of their selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, building a class that consists nearly entirely of defenders.

Defense has been a focus for the Falcons all offseason, and the draft represented the latest opportunity for improvement. Head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot expressed their excitement for Atlanta’s selections throughout the weekend.

The draft pundits were a bit more mixed on the Falcons’ haul, with most of their reservations linked to the 2026 first-round pick Atlanta gave up to move back into the first round to select James Pearce Jr. Fontenot discussed that move over the weekend, saying their belief in the player outweighed the value of a pick next year.

“Well, if you look at the trade from yesterday, basically what we did is we used our first round pick this year, right? When you really think about it, what we gave up for it is we went from the second round to the third round, if you really put it in a nutshell. …

“It’s about who the player is, and we’re not being irresponsible about it. We’re making decisions based on conviction and love for players and knowing the impact they’re going to make on this team.”

The first-round value Atlanta gave away in 2026 will be tied to the team’s performance this season. If the Falcons make the jump and achieve their goal of reaching the postseason, that first-round pick would be closer to the No. 26 pick they received in the trade and the value would therefore look more equal.

Interestingly enough, NFL data analyst Warren Sharp declared that Atlanta came away with the best value in the entire draft, despite the claims that the Falcons gave away too much to get the players they did. If that value translates to the field, Atlanta’s class will likely rise in estimation.