FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Perhaps no position group had more year-over-year improvement than the Atlanta Falcons' edge rushers.
The arrival of Leonard Floyd in free agency, coupled with the additions of rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. through the draft, provided new firepower for a pass rush that produced the second-fewest sacks during the 2024 season. A change in defensive philosophy under coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, which emphasized an attacking mindset and blitzed at the second-highest rate in the league, created an element of chaos that allowed Atlanta's players to thrive.
The Falcons sacked the opposing quarterback 57 times, setting a new single-season franchise record and generating the second-highest total in the league during the 2025 season. It was a remarkable turnaround and created a new trajectory for Atlanta's defense, especially with Ulbrich remaining as defensive coordinator.
Let's take a closer look at how the Falcons' edge defenders performed last season and what to expect in the coming months.
Roster Recap:
- Offense: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Offensive Line
- Defense: Defensive Tackle
2025 production:
| Games Played | Starts | Sacks | QB Pressures* | Pressure Rate* | Tackles | Tackles for loss | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonard Floyd | 15 | 15 | 3.5 | 31 | 11.4% | 19 | 5 |
| Jalon Walker | 15 | 9 | 5.5 | 29 | 10.8% | 36 | 5 |
| James Pearce Jr. | 17 | 3 | 10.5 | 45 | 13.5% | 26 | 10 |
| Arnold Ebiketie | 17 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 16.4% | 36 | 5 |
| DeAngelo Malone | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Khalid Kareem | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15.2% | 7 | 1 |
*Numbers from NFL Next Gen Stats
Standout stat: Pearce's 10.5 sacks were the most by a rookie since Micah Parsons' 13 in 2021 with the Dallas Cowboys. He had six straight games with at least one sack, which tied for the second-longest streak by any NFL rookie since sacks were officially recorded in 1982. The 26th overall pick had two games in which he took down the quarterback twice, making him the only rookie with more than one multi-sack game this season. Pearce had two sacks in the Falcons' season finale win against the Saints; the first of which broke the Falcons' single-season sack record; the second of which earned him double-digit sacks on the season.
Standout stat: Collectively, Atlanta's edge defenders had the 10th-best pressure rate among all NFL edge groups, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, generating pressure on 13.5% of their pass rush snaps. Per TruMedia, it took the Falcons' edge defenders 4.5 seconds to record a sack on average, which was the third-fastest time in the league.
Players under contract for 2026:
- James Pearce Jr.
- Jalon Walker
- Bralen Trice
2026 Free agents:
- Leonard Floyd
- Arnold Ebiketie
- DeAngelo Malone
- Khalid Kareem
Biggest question facing the position group in 2026:
How will they choose to replace the production they stand to lose in free agency?
Although Pearce and Walker grabbed the headlines for most of the season, the secret sauce of Atlanta's entire defensive front was its depth. By consistently rotating players throughout games, the Falcons kept fresher legs deep into the fourth quarter and could gain the advantage late. With Floyd and Ebiketie's contracts about to expire, however, they could have to replace half of their main rotation on the edge.
The Falcons could try to work something out with either player, who both still offer a lot of value on the field. But with Kevin Stefanski replacing Raheem Morris as head coach and a new general manager soon to be named, it's difficult to say exactly what the team will prioritize at this point. With the amount of promising youth Atlanta has in the trenches on defense, there are a couple of interesting roster-building paths it could travel this offseason. The Falcons could continue to invest draft capital at that spot, building around players of the same age like Philadelphia or Los Angeles, or they could choose to bring in more experienced players to mentor their two young aces.
A wild card in all of this is Bralen Trice, who has yet to suit up for the Falcons in a regular season game. The 2024 third-round pick showed a lot of promise in training camp as a rookie, but a knee injury in the first preseason game ended his year. Trice reinjured his knee just before the 2025 season and ultimately never made it onto the field. How the Falcons feel about Trice's health and abilities moving forward could also factor into how they approach adding to their edge room.
The Atlanta Falcons defense made history on Sunday as they set a new franchise record for sacks in a single-season. The 2025 season accumulated 57 sacks, surpassing the previous record of 55 from 1997. Take a look back at some of the best moments from the year.
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 gets a sack during the Week 1 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, September 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 celebrates after a sack during the first half of the Week 2 Game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 and defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 react after a sack during the second quarter of the Week 2 Game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 sacks the quarterback during the second quarter of the Week 2 Game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 makes a sack during the Week 2 Game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 reacts after his first career sack during the Week 2 Game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday, September 14, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 sacks the quarterback during the third quarter of the Week 3 Game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, September 21, 2025. (Photo by Joshua Lavallee/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison #96 reacts after a sack during the Week 4 Game against the Washington Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, September 28, 2025. (Photo by AJ Reynolds/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 makes a sack during the Week 6 Game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, October 13, 2025. (Photo by Matthew Grimes/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 reacts after a sack during the Week 6 Game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, October 13, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 sacks the quarterback during the Week 6 Game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Monday, October 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 makes a sack during the Week 6 Game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, October 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 and Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 celebrate a sack during the Week 6 Game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Monday, October 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Zach Harrison #96 reacts during the Week 7 Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, October 19, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 sacks the quarterback during the first quarter of the Week 8 Game against the Miami Dolphins at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, October 26, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Martin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 forces a fumble during the Week 9 Game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Sunday, November 2, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 sacks the quarterback during the first half of the Week 9 Game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Sunday, November 2, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 sacks the quarterback during the third quarter of the Week 9 Game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Sunday, November 2, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 makes a tackle during the Week 10 Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, November 9, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 makes a sack and forces a fumble during the Week 10 Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, November 9, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison #36 makes a sack during the Week 10 Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, November 9, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison #96 during the Week 10 Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, November 9, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 celebrates with teammates after a sack and fumble recovery during the third quarter of the Week 10 Game against the Indianapolis Colts at Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, November 9, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 makes a sack during the Week 11 Game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 16, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 reacts during the Week 11 Game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 16, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison #36 makes a sack during the Week 11 Game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 16, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 makes a sack during the Week 11 Game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 16, 2025. (Photo by Kevin Liles/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. #33 celebrates a sack during the Week 11 Game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 16, 2025. (Photo by Kevin Liles/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 makes a sack during the Week 11 Game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 16, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 reacts during the Week 12 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, November 23, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Kentavius Street #93 makes a tackle during the Week 12 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, November 23, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 reacts during the Week 12 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, November 23, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 , Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 , Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 make a tackle during the Week 12 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, November 23, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 celebrates after a sack during the Week 13 Game against the New York Jets at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, November 30, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 reacts after a sack during the second quarter of the Week 13 Game against the New York Jets at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, November 30, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 makes a sack during the Week 14 Game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, December 7, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Martin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Kentavius Street #93 reacts after a sack during the Week 14 Game against the Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, December 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 gets a sack during the Week 15 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Thursday, December 11, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 gets a sack during the Week 15 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Thursday, December 11, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Martin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 gets a sack during the Week 15 Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Thursday, December 11, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 makes a sack during the Week 16 Game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, December 21, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 celebrates after making a sack during the Week 17 Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, December 29, 2025. (Photo by AJ Reynolds/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 and Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 make a sack during the Week 17 Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, December 29, 2025. (Photo by AJ Reynolds/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 celebrates a sack during the Week 17 Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Monday, December 29, 2025. (Photo by AJ Reynolds/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 makes a sack during the Week 17 Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, December 29, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 makes a record breaking sack during the Week 18 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, January 4, 2026. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 makes a record breaking sack during the Week 18 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, January 4, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Kentavius Street #93 makes a sack during the Week 18 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, January 4, 2026. (Photo by Matthew Grimes/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 makes a record breaking sack during the Week 18 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, January 4, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 makes a record breaking sack during the Week 18 Game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, January 4, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
