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How One NFC North Team Nearly Shattered Falcons Draft Plans

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Petry | Last updated May 23, 2025 12:32 PM ET

Atlanta's opportunity to double down in the first round was almost lost because another team had the same target in mind.

The Atlanta Falcons came into the 2025 NFL Draft with one goal: to address the lack of a pass rush by any means necessary. They did that by selecting Georgia Bulldogs player Jalon Walker with the number 15 pick in the draft. Then, traded back into the first round to choose Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher James Pearce Jr.

The Falcons made a deal with the Los Angeles Rams to trade back into the first round, but it almost didn't happen. The Chargers held the No. 22 overall pick, just four spots ahead of the Falcons’ selection of Pearce.

The Chargers were in discussions with several teams about trading down from that spot. While the Philadelphia Eagles were widely reported as one suitor, the Detroit Lions had the same idea. ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes that Lions general manager Brad Holmes said Detroit attempted to trade up in the first round to land an edge rusher but failed to do so.

Had the Lions successfully traded up with the Chargers, the Falcons might never have had the chance to secure one of the draft’s top edge defenders. According to reports, the Lions were unwilling to give up the same haul as Atlanta did to nab the pick. The Chargers would stay at the number 22 pick and didn't budge.

They ultimately held onto the pick and selected North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, which cleared the way for Atlanta’s aggressive jump to land Pearce. A move under the microscope for Atlanta due to a future first-round pick being given up puts a lot of pressure on James Pearce Jr. to perform well immediately.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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