In what was viewed by most fans and experts as a largely successful draft for the Atlanta Falcons, three of the team’s draftees are being ranked as the best among all 257 picks. Let’s take a look at which players gained this honor.
While the dust continues to settle on an eventful NFL draft weekend, experts have been using the past week to analyze the best picks out of all 257 selections. Obviously ranking the best out of a draft class of insanely talented players is subjective, especially because they haven’t played a down of NFL football yet. Still, receiving post-draft high praise from experts is nothing to sniff at, especially after the Atlanta Falcons have been one of the most highly criticized teams in recent years after the draft.
The list we’ll be taking a look at today is ESPN analyst Matt Miller’s Top 100 draft picks from all three days of the draft, and Atlanta had three of their five selections that cracked this list. What I like about Miller’s list is that he didn’t rank these picks based solely on talent, but mainly factored in value, scheme fit, how well the pick addressed a need, what the player brings to the field, and whether any additional assets were gained or lost in draft-day trades to acquire him.
These many components resulted in a highly detailed analysis of the ways the picks mentioned can benefit the team short and long term. So… what Atlanta newbies cracked Miller’s top 100?
5. Jalon Walker, Edge, Atlanta Falcons (Pick 1-15)
Miller’s excerpt: Walker was a top-five player on my board, and Atlanta ended his draft-night slide midway through the first round. Not only did the Falcons get great value, but they also got a player who fits perfectly for Atlanta’s scheme and need. Walker’s NFL position has yet to be determined (he played both linebacker and edge at Georgia in 2024), but he brings desperately needed speed and high upside as a pass rusher in a 3-4 alignment.
Honestly, couldn’t have said it better myself. Walker is a highly versatile player as Miller mentioned, playing both linebacker and edge at the University of Georgia this past season, having success at both positions. It only took Philadelphia winning a Super Bowl with all the Georgia talent they acquired for Atlanta to catch on.
Walker’s speed and size take me back to the days of John Abraham with his ability to stretch offensive lineman and squeeze past them for easy pressures and sacks. His different alignments on defense allowed him to keep the offense guessing which contributed to him running free a ton of times in 2024. This pick came in high on Miller’s list at #5, ranking above noteworthy selections of Travis Hunter (#6), Abdul Carter (#8), and Will Campbell (#17) just to name a few.
31. Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons (Pick 3-96)
Miller’s excerpt: Getting a 54-pick value is always good, but pairing Watts with Jessie Bates III is great. It gives Atlanta a ball-hawking safety duo. Watts’ 13 interceptions in his past two seasons at Notre Dame made him one of the country’s best defensive backs, and he now brings that ability to a Falcons defense that also nabbed edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in Round 1.
Probably one of the biggest steals of the draft, Xavier Watts was taken by the Falcons in round 3 with the 96th pick. After Demarcco Hellams sustained an ankle injury during the 2024 pre-season, Atlanta signed then free agent Justin Simmons to a 1-year contract, but the marriage delivered underwhelming results with Simmons looking like a shell of his former All-Pro self in this team’s shaky defense. The team has declined to re-sign him to this point.
That leaves a void at the other safety position alongside Jessie Bates III, and a ball-hawking defensive back like Watts that posted 13 interceptions the last two years could fill it with his exceptional coverage, play recognition, and ability to break on the ball. His ability to pick up and recognize coverage responsibilities and shadow receivers will prove crucial when playing a team like the Bucs, who just added to their loaded receiving core selecting Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka. It’s also a great depth move for Atlanta, with Hellams returning from injury and Jordan Fuller also being signed in late March. Regardless if Watts wins out the starting job, I feel strongly that he’ll make an impact in year 1.
72. Billy Bowman Jr., S, Atlanta Falcons (Pick 4-118)
Miller’s excerpt: Atlanta doubled down at edge rusher and safety, and Bowman’s versatility aligns with new teammate Xavier Watts’ skills. Bowman might see snaps at nickel safety first, but he has starter upside and ball skills.
Just one round and 22 picks later, Atlanta picked another safety, selecting Billy Bowman Jr. from Oklahoma. Selecting the same position in back to back picks may raise some eyebrows, especially already having a cemented starter in Bates, but a player like Bowman Jr. has a slightly different skillset than Watts. While Watts is a great zone coverage player with remarkable lateral and downhill quickness, Bowman Jr. is a player with exceptional man coverage ability showing an innate skill for coming down and manning up the slot.
This is why Miller mentioned that he believes Bowman Jr. would see more snaps at nickel first rather than safety, something the Falcons have confirmed. This is especially the case given his smaller stature standing 5’10”, 192 pounds. The smaller quicker receivers often line up in the slot, providing an easy target for quarterbacks who like to look for fast drag, slant, or whip routes. Depending on how Bowman Jr develops, he could find his role as a shutdown nickel back taking away those easy throws.
That’s a quick analysis on the Falcons’ that made Matt Miller’s top 100 picks in the NFL draft. Do you agree with who Miller included and where he placed these picks? If not, who would you have chosen instead and where would they be? Comment your thoughts below!