The Atlanta Falcons have a unique system for categorizing draft prospects, dividing them into three distinct buckets. According to Kyle Smith, the team’s assistant general manager, the first bucket is reserved for “win-because-of starters,” characterized by elite talent. The second bucket includes “win-with starters,” and the third, largest bucket contains role and depth players typically selected on Day 3 of the draft.
Smith expressed confidence in this year’s draft strategy, noting that it aligned well with their bucketing system. The Falcons began the 2025 NFL Draft with five picks but ended up making strategic trades to maximize their selections. Initially holding one pick each in the first, second, and fourth rounds and two in the seventh round, they made adjustments to focus on acquiring top-tier talent early on.
Atlanta’s first significant move was selecting edge rusher Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall. They then traded with the Los Angeles Rams to acquire another first-round pick at No. 26 and a third-round pick at No. 101, giving up their second-round pick (No. 46), a seventh-round pick (No. 242), and next year’s first-round selection in return.
With this additional first-round pick, they chose edge rusher James Pearce Jr., bolstering their defensive line with two pressure players from what Smith described as “the top one” bucket.
Further maneuvering saw Atlanta trade up in the third round by sending No. 101 and a future fifth-rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles for No. 96, where they picked safety Xavier Watts.
In subsequent rounds, the Falcons stayed firm on their picks: defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. was selected at No. 118 in the fourth round, followed by offensive tackle Jack Nelson at No. 218 in the seventh round.
Smith acknowledged that defense was a priority this year: “Everybody knows we wanted to go defense this year,” he stated. He explained that while sometimes plans don’t align perfectly with available talent, this year’s draft allowed them to secure potential starters across four defensive positions.
Reflecting on their selections’ developmental needs, Smith noted that lower draft picks often require more development but expressed confidence in their potential: “We feel comfortable with those four guys having a real chance to become starters for us.”
