Falcons select Xavier Watts with No. 96 pick in 2025 NFL Draft – Atlanta Falcons
2025-04-26T03:16:32Z
Atlanta made a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles to move up in the third round and grab Watts.
Falcons Digital Team Reporter FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons traded up in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select University of Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts with the No. 96 overall pick. The Falcons received No. 96 from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Atlanta’s No. 101, also in the third round, and a 2026 fifth-rounder. Watts was Notre Dame’s first two-time consensus All-American since 1993, and he was one of only two players alongside Colorado’s Travis Hunter to be named a consensus All-American in both 2023 and 2024. He finished out his five-year collegiate career with 13 interceptions and 18 passes defended. Learn more about the Falcons’ new addition below. Height: 6 feet Weight: 205 lbs Age: 23 School: University of Notre Dame 2024 Stats: 16 starts | 82 tackles (3.5 for loss) | 10 passes defended (6 interceptions) | 1 forced fumble How he fits with the Falcons: Watts doesn’t have athleticism that leaps off the tape or rare size, but he is an excellent football player. He has a feel for the game that seems almost preternatural at times, as evidenced by his 13 interceptions the last two seasons, which were the most of any player in college football. Like many of the defenders Atlanta has sought in the draft, Watts is a versatile player who played free safety, box safety and even linebacker during his career with the Irish. Watts also fits the character profile the Falcons seek and was a two-time team captain. Pairing Watts with Jessie Bates III gives Atlanta two safeties with very high football IQs who can work well off of each other to create confusion for opposing quarterbacks. Expert Opinions Dane Brugler, The Athletic: “Without imposing size or high-level explosiveness, Watts has been a slow-burn evaluation for NFL scouts, but his playmaking instincts are indisputable on tape. Although his aggressive nature leads to occasional mistakes, he plays with a quick, decisive trigger and his tone-setting toughness pops versus both run and pass. Overall, Watts isn’t a safety you want playing man-to-man coverage against slot receivers very often, but he is a solid run defender with the route anticipation and ball skills to sniff out plays from depth. He projects as an NFL starter and would fit best in a split-safety, zone-heavy scheme, in which he can play two-deep and underneath zone.” Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Safety with the versatility and ball skills to make plays from a variety of alignments. Watts plays with rare feel and instincts on the back-end, allowing him to range over the top in single-high or read and drive on throws as a split safety. Watts lined up over the slot at times in college, but he might not have the man-cover talent to do that as a pro. His ball skills and production are intoxicating, but his run support and tackling are quite sobering. Watts lacks pursuit discipline and fails to break down in space, leading to open-field misses and back-breaking mistakes. The tackling lowers his floor some, but I expect him to drift toward his ceiling because he’s so good on the back-end.” Join us as we go into the War Room for the Atlanta Falcons’ picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) Scenes from the 2025 Draft War Room at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons) The Falcons add some youth to their offensive line room with the rookie out of Wisconsin. If you’re looking for a rundown of all the draft action, or a place to find the latest Falcons draft coverage, this is a good place to start The Atlanta Falcons selected University of Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson with the No. 218 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich didn’t expect the Oklahoma defensive back to be available at No. 118. The Falcons’ first-round pick has a play style reminiscent of Micah Parsons, but he’s ready to forge his own path. The Atlanta Falcons selected the Oklahoma safety with the No. 118 pick in the draft. Falcons brass explains their vision for him at nickel. The Atlanta Falcons selected University of Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. with the No. 118 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Xavier Watts said he models his game after the Falcons’ veteran, too. A quick look at the players Atlanta could target in the fourth and seventh rounds as well as the biggest remaining needs for the Falcons on Day 3. In a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta moved up in the third round to take the Notre Dame safety at No. 96 overall. The Falcons’ new edge from Georgia is very confident in his pass-rushing abilities.
© Atlanta Falcons Football Club – 2025
Auto-posted from news source
About The Author
