Watts tying Sanders' record proves he's one of bigger steals of 2025 draft

Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts (31) intercepts a pass over Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith (19) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Falcons' Xavier Watts tying Deion Sanders' record proves he's one of the bigger steals of 2025 NFL Draft

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 3:54 PM ET

The Atlanta Falcons should feel fortunate that rookie safety Xavier Watts fell to them in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star has already become the ball-hawking safety Atlanta (7-9) needed and is tying franchise records.

Xavier Watts tied Deion Sanders' record against Los Angeles Rams on "MNF"

Watts intercepted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford twice in a 27-24 home upset on "Monday Night Football" in Week 17. The first came late in the second quarter on a deep ball intended for wide receiver Xavier Smith.

Watts grabbed his second interception in the fourth quarter when he jumped in front of rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson on a short pass.

Another @AtlantaFalcons INT!

This time Xavier Watts takes it away.

LARvsATL on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/LzHgpq98QU
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2025

PICKED! Xavier Watts with his 2nd of the game

After review it was determined he stepped out before scoring.

LARvsATL on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/g22mq5NDq2
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2025

Watts (pick No. 96) has five interceptions in 16 games, tied for the second most in the NFL. He has also tied Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Sanders' franchise record for most interceptions by a rookie. The No. 5 pick of the 1989 draft logged five interceptions in 15 games during his rookie season.

Xavier Watts has officially tied Deion Sanders with the second-most interceptions in a rookie season in franchise history with five. pic.twitter.com/zseMJgRBHG
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) December 30, 2025

Watts could eclipse Sanders' mark in Atlanta's regular-season finale against the New Orleans Saints (6-10) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Fox). If he does, teams would regret passing on him in the draft even more.

Why did Xavier Watts fall in NFL Draft?

NFL Mock Draft Database projected Watts as a second-rounder before the draft, but he ultimately fell because of concerns about his speed and positional value. Only one safety (Malaki Starks of the Baltimore Ravens) was selected in the first round of the 2025 draft. Baltimore (7-8) took the former Georgia Bulldogs star, who has two interceptions this season, with pick No. 27.

"I question his speed and man-cover a little bit, but they are above the line. His instincts and ball skills are off the charts," an AFC national scout said of Watts before the draft, via NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.

Those concerns now look silly. Watts may emerge as one of the top players from the class if he stays on this trajectory, which he certainly could. He's already in elite company after tying Sanders' record.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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