FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When Atlanta Falcons leadership went into the 2025 NFL Draft back in the spring, they needed to find multiple defensive starters. They did so by drafting Jalon Walker at No. 15, and then went back into the first round to grab another edge rusher in James Pearce Jr. Still, they needed more. And as their third-round, No. 96 overall pick loomed, they saw their target waiting to be picked up: Xavier Watts.
No one could understand why Watts fell so far. He was a projected second-rounder by most mock drafts at the time. The Falcons know not to look a gift horse in the mouth, though. The rest of the league's loss has been the Falcons' gain, and the year Watts is having proves that to be true.
Voting for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games has begun. Let's take a closer look at why Watts deserves a vote.
Where he ranks
Watts is one of only seven players league-wide to accumulate 75-plus tackles and three or more interceptions. He is one of only four players in the NFC to have done so to this point, too.
What's more, those 75 tackles lead all NFC rookies in the stat.
Speaking of where Watts ranks amongst rookies in the league...
Standout stat
Watts leads all NFL rookies in interceptions with three.
Best game in 2025
This may be an odd selection, but hear me out: Watts' debut in Week 1 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Watts won the starting job alongside Jessie Bates III through training camp. It would have been easy — understandable even — if in his debut he was overlooked. That is not the case at all. Despite not coming down with his first career interception until the very next week in Minnesota, it was this home game against Tampa Bay that fully displayed Watts' instincts, the instincts that sold Atlanta on him in the first place.
He made six total tackles that day and defended two passes. And those two passes should have been interceptions, even Watts would tell you that. It was a debut that brokered no debate: Watts was here to stay and rookie status or not, he's here to make plays, too.
"The beauty of X — and I'm getting to know him as we go here — he just feels like a guy that will never be satisfied," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said when Watts was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September. "He's just going to keep pushing to get better. Guys have a little success early on. Sometimes that's dangerous. They kick their feet up and they believe, 'I got it.' And I don't feel that from him at all."
Quote from locker room
"I think if you look at the body of work that he's put out there this year, I think he's one of the best in the league. I think that Pro Bowl voting, it kind of comes with your winning record. You got to be able to be winning, but I think if you turn on the tape and watch X play, you'll understand why he's one of the top safeties in this league. And even if it's not this year, I can see X being a Pro Bowl player moving forward." - Falcons safety Jessie Bates
How to vote now
Fans can cast a vote for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games on AtlantaFalcons.com, NFL.com or on X by using #ProBowlVote and the name of the player. Fan voting will close at midnight on Dec. 15, and rosters will be revealed in early January. On the final two days of the voting period — Dec. 14 and 15 — all votes cast on X will count double toward a player's total.
