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The Falcons Defense Will Be A Force In 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hery Acosta | Last updated May 30, 2025 6:18 PM ET

Atlanta struggled all of 2024 to get to the quarterback and to intercept passes as they ranked near the bottom of the league in both categories. They needed answers in the offseason and in the draft, and that is exactly what they have found.

From drafting two edge rushers in the first round in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., to also drafting stud secondary players in Billy Bowman Jr. and Xavier Watts. The Falcons also signed veteran Leonard Floyd and hope he can be a valuable piece to the defense as well.

Walker and Pearce were both viewed as first round picks, and both are coming into a situation where they must be the main guys up front. They will also get Ruke Orhorhoro back and healthy for 2025, who was a second-round pick in 2024 and was injured most of his rookie season.

Jessie Bates has been a consistent threat as a safety and looks to keep improving while also being a veteran leader to both Bowman and Watts. They will be depending a lot on their young stars to be big time players pretty early and hope they can accommodate to the NFL.

The Falcons defense looks very different from last season and look to completely flip the script from 2024. They hope to provide as much fire power as they can so the offense can also do their work, as well as be able to finally get back into the playoffs.

The Falcons have a lot of work to do in 2025 and there will be some growing pains, but most importantly they have answers that they desperately were looking for.

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

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