Atlanta, GA
Atlanta's defensive success will be defined by more than stats
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Throughout the last three seasons, the New York Jets had a top defense. Their unit was the only one in the NFL to place among the top five in total yards allowed each year. In fact, it ranked No. 1 overall between 2022-24.
New York also ranked tops in the league in defensive EPA, according to TruMedia, had the second-best defensive success rate and tied for ninth in points allowed since 2022.
Now, in 2025, the man who led those Jets defenses to success — Jeff Ulbrich — is the Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator.
Ulbrich was brought back to Atlanta to achieve a similar level of production. However, a repeat performance is the least of Ulbrich’s concerns. At least when it comes to those numbers, alone.
“Well, see, I get very twisted up sometimes with statistics because I really believe when you chase stats, you’re not chasing winning sometimes,” Ulbrich told AtlantaFalcons.com. “I know that sounds funny, and it sounds weird, but there’s some truth in it. I think, at the end of the day, you got to find a way to win every single game.”
The Jets, despite their strong defense, did not find enough ways to do that. Their best record during Ulbrich’s time with the team was 7-10.
That’s why Ulbrich was reluctant to answer when questioned about carrying over the Jets’ defensive success with the Falcons. Interestingly enough, Ulbrich referenced an old press conference of Falcons head coach Raheem Morris to further explain the reluctance.
When Morris was hired as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator in 2021, he entered a different yet similar situation. The Rams had the No. 1 defense in 2020. So, instead of fielding questions about implementing his own plan for success, Morris was asked about maintaining what was in place. His answer began with the strengths of the prior season’s defense but then turned to his goals for the upcoming season, which is what Ulbrich referenced.
“Ultimately, nobody’s really going to be happy with being the No. 1 defense,” Morris said. “We are here to win a championship. I wasn’t brought here to try to duplicate what they did last year. We were brought here to win, and we were brought here to win a championship.”
The Rams lost in the divisional round in 2020, when they had the top defense. They won the Super Bowl in 2021, with a 17th-ranked defense.
Morris’ point was made. Priorities were correct.
“I think there’s so much power in that,” Ulbrich said. “I thought it was such a poignant statement because we do live in a day and age where everybody knows the stats and the analytics and all the stuff with numbers. But we can’t lose focus that winning is the No. 1 thing we have to accomplish here.”
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.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — A current backup quarterback was traded in the middle of Day 3 of the 2025 NFL draft, and despite pre-draft speculation, it wasn’t Atlanta Falcons passer Kirk Cousins.
The Seattle Seahawks, who drafted Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe at No. 92 overall Friday night, dealt Sam Howell and pick No. 172 overall to the Minnesota Vikings for the 142th pick, according to ESPN. Howell is now expected to be Minnesota’s backup to rising second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Two picks later, the Cleveland Browns traded up to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders at No. 144 overall. Sanders is the Browns’ second quarterback draftee, joining third-round pick Dillon Gabriel from Oregon.
Cleveland now has five quarterbacks: Sanders, Gabriel and former starters Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. The Browns likely won’t add a sixth.
So, the Vikings and Browns appear out of the market for Cousins. The Athletic insider Dianna Russini reported Wednesday that Minnesota, Cleveland and the Pittsburgh Steelers were the “most likely potential suitors” to land Cousins, who both NFL Network and The Athletic suggested could be moved during the draft.
The Steelers are still waiting on an answer from free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suddenly holds significant power over Cousins’s future. If Rodgers decides he doesn’t want to continue playing, Cousins, who’s considered the next-best available veteran option, could be the apple of Pittsburgh’s proverbial eye.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said in his pre-draft press conference April 23 he couldn’t anticipate whether Atlanta would receive any calls about trading Cousins during the draft, but he’d be willing to listen.
“In reference to Kirk, with any player, like we’ve always said, ‘Hey, look, we’re going to do what’s best for this football team, whether that’s a trade or whatever it is,’” Fontenot said. “And so, we’re open to whatever it is if it’s going to help the team.”
The Falcons have stressed throughout the offseason they’re “comfortable” keeping Cousins as a backup to Michael Penix Jr., the role he held for the final three games of the regular season.
Cousins showed up for the first day of Atlanta’s voluntary offseason program April 22, though he expressed interest earlier this offseason in being traded to a place he can start.
But suddenly, the 36-year-old’s options are dwindling — and the Falcons may be forced to wait until training camp to find a dancing partner.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons compiled a noteworthy trade package late during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to obtain edge defender James Pearce Jr., who was a player some predicted the Falcons might select at No. 15 overall. Instead, the Falcons used that pick to select Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker.
The package to move up for the Los Angeles Rams’ No. 26 pick, which they used on Pearce, included the Falcons’ second-round pick (No. 46) and seventh-round pick (No. 242) in this year’s draft as well as a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Atlanta also got a third-round pick (No. 101) from the Rams, so it was ultimately a two-for-three deal in Los Angeles’ favor.
That level of investment could put pressure on an incoming rookie. But not this 21-year-old.
“Some people might use negative to fuel their fire,” Pearce said during his introductory press conference. “I feel like that was a super positive thing they did, and that fueled my fire. That put a lot of gasoline on there. Makes me want to go ahead and play for this organization a lot harder and a lot better.”
Pearce comes to Atlanta from the University of Tennessee, where he was a two-year starter for the Volunteers. He had a standout 2023 season with 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. He followed that up with 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2024. His 107 pressures the last two seasons were most in the SEC.
Looking to improve their defense, the Falcons showed vested interest in Pearce throughout the draft process, as recently as Wednesday even. Head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot met with Pearce and his mother the day before action even began.
“We always talk about intangibles, and we want to bring in guys that love ball and love to compete as we build this roster the right way,” Fontenot said. “We spent a lot of time with him making sure that he was going to fit.”
Thursday’s move back into the first round proved the Falcons think he does — and Pearce felt that.
“They believed in me,” Pearce said. “They believed in my talent. They believed in my skill set. They believed in me growing as a man.”
On the first night of the NFL Draft, the Falcons added two proven SEC pass rushers in their rookie class. All parties are happy with the turnout so far.
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