FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Falcons' decision to invest two first-round picks in pass rushers during the 2025 NFL Draft was a clear indicator of their offseason priorities. However, there was a second indicator provided during the draft. This one, a bit more subtle but potentially more important.
The selections of Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, were made in an effort to increase the overall playmaking ability of Atlanta's defense. In that mission, the Falcons feel they've made strides.
"I would have to say, for sure, the playmaking has been upgraded," head coach Raheem Morris said before the first training camp practice.
Last season, Morris' first in charge of the club, the Falcons recorded 18 takeaways, which placed them 16th among all NFL teams. Although turnovers can have a high degree of variability from year to year, there is a ball-oriented mindset teams can cultivate.
The Falcons are in the process of ingraining that mentality in each of their defenders. Through the first stretch of training camp practices, there has already been clear moments where correction was needed. However, those moments lessons led to later breakthroughs.
Veteran cornerback Mike Hughes provides a great example. Hughes had an excellent 2024 season and is back opposite of A.J. Terrell, but he is still learning exactly what defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich expects of him.
"The runner ran by Mike Hughes the other day, and he tagged off, like a lot of players do, to demonstrate leverage," Ulbrich said. "I would have made a good tackle right there, end the whole thing, but making it very clear to him after the fact, 'No, that's not good enough. We're going to take a shot right there.' And ultimately, taking the shots makes us better tacklers, as well."
It doesn't matter the position a defender plays, everyone can create turnovers. And Ulbrich recalled the play another former corner when explaining what he wants to see from Hughes. The results were fairly immediate, as Hughes was active during the team's second open practice and forced two fumbles.
"Everybody talks about [Charles] Peanut Tillman, the best that's ever done it," Ulbrich said. "I think we'd all agree with that, and I asked him the other day, 'Do you know what position Peanut Tillman played?' 'Corner?' 'Yeah, corner.' To see him immediately take that to the field the next day and get two out was pretty cool."
Of course, it also helps to add players who come about that mindset, naturally.
Watts recorded 13 interceptions in his final two seasons at Notre Dame, including an FBS-high seven picks in 2023. Bowman finished just behind Watts with six interceptions in 2023, and he had 11 total during his four seasons at Oklahoma. With 24 picks between them in college, the Falcons are adding two players who know how to take the ball away.
"I just think it's who I am," Watts said after getting drafted. "I'm just a ball player at the end of the day. I just go out there and I make plays."
The two rookies will have a fantastic role model to learn from in Jessie Bates III. The veteran safety was the only player in the NFL last season to have four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. His propensity for creating changes of possession have helped secure a couple of wins for Atlanta since he first arrived in 2023.
He'll now have help in more ways than one. Not only will the Falcons have a greater abundance of hungry hands in the secondary but the increased firepower with their pass rush could result in more opportunities for interceptions if opposing quarterbacks are under duress more frequently.
Those chances could come early for the rookies, so they'll need to be ready.
"It's exciting for some of those young guys," Bates said. "They'll be making impact plays early. For those guys, I'm just preaching to them that, 'Hey, y'all got to get going. There's no easing into it, you've got to get going right now.' Because we're going to depend on them to make some big-time plays for us throughout the year."
There is a nice blend of youth and experience on Atlanta's defense. Players like A.J. Terrell and Kaden Elliss took big step forwards last season and return as the standard bearers for the unit alongside Bates and a few other notable veterans. How quickly Watts, Bowman and fellow rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. settle into their roles will be key for their defensive designs in 2025.
"You can't help but be excited about that production that's coming to our team to be with our guys that are already productive," Morris said.
For the first 12 weeks of the season, the Falcons ranked last in the NFL with only 12. From Weeks 13-18, however, Atlanta recorded 21 sacks, which ranked second behind only the Dallas Cowboys.
That turnaround helped illustrate the impact coaching and scheme can have on a defense during a season. The offseason provided the Falcons the opportunity to add to their personnel, and they've done so with players who clearly fit with the team's biggest defensive needs, a list that includes more than just the pass rush.
Getting to the quarterback more frequently should aid Atlanta in its goal to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season, but turnovers are even more impactful.
Of the 13 teams who finished in the Top 10 in turnover margin last season, including four teams tied at No. 10 — only the Chicago Bears failed to reach the postseason.
"As far as every single time we're on this grass, we're ball hunting," Ulbrich said. "Because ultimately, that dictates the game."
