FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. and safety Xavier Watts are officially in the running for The Associated Press' 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
AP revealed its top five finalists Thursday.
The Falcons drafted Pearce at No. 26 overall in the first round and Watts at No. 96 overall in the third round last year. Each move required Atlanta to make a trade. Both paid off.
Pearce and Watts had impactful and impressive debut seasons. So much so, Watts earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in September and Pearce did so in December, bookending the season with recognition from the league. Then, together, they were named to the Professional Football Writers of America's 2025 All-Rookie team at season's end for a cumulative external applause for their efforts.
Because of Pearce and Watts, the Falcons became only the second team in NFL history to boast a pair of rookies with at least 10 sacks and at least five interceptions in the same season. They make for a dangerous duo across the defensive side of the ball but also individual threats in their respective zones of play.
Pearce did a little bit of everything for the Falcons' front. He made 26 tackles, 10 of which were for a loss. He recorded 10.5 sacks amid 16 quarterback hits. He broke up five passes. And he both forced and recovered a fumble.
The 10.5 sacks are easily the most notable among Pearce's statistics. They're the most by any rookie since outside linebacker Micah Parsons had 13 in 2021 for the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year afterward.
In fact, including Pearce, only 23 rookies have reached at least 10.5 sacks since 1982, when sacks became an official individual stat. Eleven of those ultimately won Defensive Rookie or the Year.
Watts, meanwhile, was also just about everywhere in the Falcons' secondary. He made 96 tackles, 59 of which were solo. He snagged five interceptions amid 11 pass breakups. He, too, recovered a fumble.
The five interceptions really made Watts stand out, as they were the most by any rookie this season and tied for the most by any rookie in the last three seasons. In 2024, Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock also had five picks. He finished eighth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race.
Watts even had a two-pick game in the Falcons' Week 17 win against the Los Angeles Rams, making him the only rookie this season with a multi-interception game.
The Falcons have had three players win Defensive Rookie of the Year all-time. Linebackers Buddy Curry and Al Richardson won in 1980. Defensive end Claude Humphrey did so in 1968.
AP has been giving out this honor since 1967, when Detroit Lions cornerback Lem Barney took home the inaugural award.
The 2025 winner will be announced Feb. 5 at the annual NFL Honors event.
Join us as we take a look back on our favorite photos from gameday during the Atlanta Falcons' 2025-2026 season.
