The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching and the Atlanta Falcons have the 15th pick. This is a breakdown of their team needs and potential players they could select in the Draft.
State of the Union
It was a disappointing season for the Falcons after narrowly missing out on the playoffs. They felt they had a roster that was a quarterback away from competing in the postseason. That is why they made an aggressive offseason move to acquire Kirk Cousins, a veteran quarterback with postseason experience. Then the NFL community was shocked when the Falcons used their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on another quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. It was no insult to Penix as a player, but the Falcons made the move for Cousins because they were “all-in to win now.” After investing so much money and resources into a quarterback already, it seemed strange not to use that top-10 pick on a player that would help them “win now.”
The Falcons were having a decent season but Cousins’ play started to decline toward the end of the season. Raheem Morris felt that he needed to make a change at quarterback in order to make that postseason push. The Falcons made Penix Jr. the starter for the final three games of the regular season but came up just short of a postseason spot. However, Penix played well enough that the Falcons were confident he could be their quarterback of the future. The Falcons are expected to trade Cousins this offseason and move forward with their “win now” roster but with Penix at the helm. The Falcons have some great skill position players, a quarterback they believe in and some really solid defensive players, they just need to find those couple of players that could take them to the next level of competing in the postseason.
Potential Departures
S Justin Simmons – Justin Simmons made three straight All-Pro teams from 2021-2023 with the Broncos, so as part of their “all-in” strategy, the Falcons signed Simmons to a one-year contract. They hoped that the three-time All-Pro could be the key to fixing their leaky secondary. Simmons did not have a great season for the Falcons, and their defense as a whole did not improve. Simmons has expressed a desire to remain with the Falcons, so it will be interesting to see if Atlanta gives him another chance to be one of its defensive leaders moving forward.
EDGE Matthew Judon – Along with Justin Simmons, the Falcons made an aggressive move to acquire Matthew Judon from the Patriots. They traded for the 4x Pro Bowl EDGE who was in the final year of his contract with New England. The Falcons hoped that with Simmons in the secondary and Judon rushing the passer, those could be the two players to make the big difference on defense. Similarly to Simmons, Judon did not live up to expectations for the Falcons. It was Judon’s lowest amount of sacks per game since his rookie season and he failed to be that difference-maker on the EDGE. It is very unlikely that the Falcons will pay him to come back after last season’s performance.
CBs Dee Alford and Mike Hughes – The Falcons could be losing two of their starting cornerbacks to free agency as well. The Falcons signed Alford from the CFL in 2022 and he has been a regular contributor in the secondary ever since, including starting last season. However, Alford had a really poor season in 2024 and Falcons fans are ready to see him move on. Contrastly, Mike Hughes had a solid season for the Falcons in his first year as a starter in Atlanta. Hughes should be pretty affordable to re-sign for Atlanta and could be someone it looks to bring back in the secondary.
Team Needs
Secondary – The secondary was an obvious issue for the Falcons last season and they could be losing three starters as well. That means they need to bring in some real quality but also depth in the secondary. They will need to address the secondary in both free agency and the draft, even if they don’t do so with their first-round pick. A.J. Terrell Jr. is the star of their defense and is the type of cornerback that can take away an opposing WR1. If they could sign someone on the free agency market like D.J. Reed to pair with Terrell, they could be dangerous in the secondary. Then they need to decide whether they are going to re-sign Justin Simmons or acquire a new safety.
Defensive Line – On the defensive line, they really need to load up. They are unlikely to bring back Matthew Judon, which means they need to find an elite EDGE who is going to be that difference-making pass rusher. The Falcons finished 31st in the NFL in total sacks last season and that is never going to work if you want to contend in the NFC. They need to shore up their run defense as well by adding to the interior defensive line.
Offensive Line – On the other side of the ball, they need to bolster the offensive line. They have their quarterback of the future, an elite running back, an elite WR1 and a tight end that they are still hoping will break out. They could add another good wide receiver but their main priority on the offensive side of the ball should be on the line. They need to protect their franchise quarterback who dealt with so many injury issues in college. The trenches on both sides of the ball will be a major priority for the Falcons.
Potential Draft Picks
EDGEs Mykel Williams (Georgia)/James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee)/Jalon Walker (Georgia)/Mike Green (Marshall) – The most obvious pick for the Falcons would be an EDGE. Not only do they need an elite pass rusher, but it is a very deep draft class at EDGE. It has been hard to predict the order in which these EDGEs will go in the first round, especially before the combine. There are a few EDGEs that could be stars at the next level and it could just come down to personal preference for a front office. Abdul Carter is going to be a top pick, potentially the No. 1 pick, but after that, Williams, Pearce, Walker, Green and several others are in the mix to be first-round draft picks.
It will depend on what happens in front of them, but Mykel Williams could be the perfect pick for the Falcons. He is from Georgia and went to the University of Georgia so he will get to stay close to home with the Falcons. He is also a physical monster with a massive upside. He is 6’5 and 265 pounds, more in the physical mold of a Myles Garrett than a Micah Parsons. He is also very physical and explosive at the point of attack. He is still relatively inexperienced and if he adds 10-15 more pounds of muscle and develops his technique under a great coach like Raheem Morris, he could be a truly elite pass rusher at the NFL level.
S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) – If Atlanta doesn’t re-sign Justin Simmons, it will need a new safety. If it decides not to go with a pass rusher, Nick Emmanwori could be the perfect safety to replace Simmons. Emmanwori is incredibly versatile as he can play in the box, rush the passer, stuff the run, play sideline to sideline or be a true ball hawk safety. He has wide receiver-level ball skills, getting four interceptions for South Carolina last season, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Emmanwori could be an elite safety in the NFL and exactly what the Falcons need to support A.J. Terrell Jr.
OT Armand Membou (Missouri) – If the Falcons elect to shore up the offensive line rather than the defense, Armand Membou would be a great pick. Membou was a second-team all-SEC right tackle last season and is ready to start right away at the next level. Membou is slightly undersized for an NFL tackle but his athleticism often makes up for his lack of height. Membou is very quick and strong with great hand speed. If the Falcons want to bring in a franchise tackle to play in front of their franchise quarterback, Membou should be available to them mid-first round.
