FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When the Atlanta Falcons traded up in the third round to select safety Xavier Watts with the No. 96 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, they had good reason to feel confident about the player they'd be getting.
"Watts is one of those guys that you've seen him make plays and do things at all three levels, which makes it a cleaner eval as opposed to some guys are box guys and we're sitting there in an interchangeable safety role, but you're really projecting how is he going to be in the post?" Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith explained after the draft. "… So, Xavier was a clean eval that way of seeing him do exactly what you envision him doing for us."
Watts has begun to earn time with the first-team defense, although he missed the Falcons' sixth open practice on Friday after leaving early the day prior. As part of a crowded safety room, Watts will have to make the most of his time on the field.
The Falcons signed veteran Jordan Fuller this offseason, and he has familiarity with head coach Raheem Morris from their time together with the Los Angeles Rams, during which they won a Super Bowl. Atlanta also welcomed third-year safety DeMarcco Hellams back to the lineup in camp after he missed all of last year with an injury. Hellams adds physicality to the defense and is the clearest fit for a box role among the safeties.
With veteran Jessie Bates III firmly established at one safety spot, that's an interesting environment for Watts to enter. But it's one that has allowed his own special qualities to shine through.
"Watts is an adult. That's the easiest way for me to put it," Morris said. "He is serious. There's not a lot funny to him. He's very conscientious. He's got pro-like skill sets. He also gets some first-team reps. He's able to mix it up with the second team. He's able to be a leader that way."
A two-time All-American at Notre Dame, Watts was a team captain for the Irish during their run to last year's national championship game. That background was a strong indicator of the character Watts possessed, and his 13 interceptions the last two seasons reflected a high football acumen.
Given the interchangeability of their safety roles, the Falcons need smart players manning those positions. Bates has proven himself to be one of the league's most savvy defenders and is an asset to whomever is on the field alongside him. In Watts, Atlanta hopes it has found a similar player who can both learn from Bates while also freeing him up to fully embrace his versatility.
"X and I are very similar," Bates said. "He's kind of reserved, kind of calm. You can't really get him out of his shell too much. That's good. As a safety, you've got to be poised. You've got to be calm. You've got to be able to communicate when things get crazy. And I never see him panic or anything like that."
Watts is part of a rookie class that is expected to have an impact on Atlanta’s defense this season. First-round picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. as well as fourth-round pick Billy Bowman Jr. are all candidates to start in Week 1 at this point in camp. Whether each of them ends up in those roles depends on their availability and how they fare throughout the remainder of the preseason.
Still, Watts is earning an early reputation among his teammates. His fellow rookies have given him one nickname: X factor. His veteran running mate has given him another.
"When you can go get the ball, you're X factor," Bates said. "He can embrace that all he wants to as long as he touches that ball. I call him X-man."
Which of the "X" monikers sticks could depend on Watts' level of play in Year 1. Bates has been the Falcons' defensive game changer since he first arrived in the 2023 offseason, and he was the only player with four interceptions and four fumble recoveries in the NFL last season.
As the Falcons seek to create more turnovers on defense, they are prioritizing versatile players who can react quickly and correctly. Watts proved to be that kind of player at the highest level of college football, and the early returns match what his scouting profile showed.
"It's almost like I don't even want to mess up his flow," Morris said. "I just kind of go with him and hit him with a couple things. I almost treat him not on a Jessie Bates level, but very close, very similar, probably what a Jessie Bates probably was as a rookie. When you talk about a serious-demeanor guy that's got the ability to be able to play early."
Bates started every game for the Cincinnati Bengals as a second-round pick in 2018; he recorded three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and seven pass defenses.
There won't be any numbers tossed out as a set goal for Watts this season, but he's already begun to make his presence felt in Atlanta. If he can do the same on Sundays this fall, the Falcons will have two interchangeable X factors at safety — exactly what they want.
