The Atlanta Falcons have focused on improving their defensive playmaking ability ahead of the 2025 NFL season. This effort was evident in the team’s decision to select two pass rushers with first-round picks during the 2025 NFL Draft, as well as drafting Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. in the third and fourth rounds.
Head coach Raheem Morris said before training camp, “I would have to say, for sure, the playmaking has been upgraded.”
Last season, under Morris’ leadership, the Falcons finished with 18 takeaways, ranking them 16th among all NFL teams. The coaching staff is working to instill a mindset centered around creating turnovers across all defensive positions.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich described a recent example involving veteran cornerback Mike Hughes: “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.” He added that referencing former corner Charles “Peanut” Tillman helped motivate Hughes: “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.”
Watts comes to Atlanta after recording 13 interceptions over his last two seasons at Notre Dame—including an FBS-leading seven in 2023—while Bowman had six interceptions in 2023 at Oklahoma and totaled 11 over four years. Both rookies bring proven ball skills from college.
“I just think it’s who I am,” Watts said after being drafted. “I’m just a ball player at the end of the day. I just go out there and I make plays.”
Veteran safety Jessie Bates III serves as another key figure for Atlanta’s defense; last season he was alone in recording both four interceptions and four fumble recoveries among NFL players. Bates emphasized how important it will be for younger players like Watts and Bowman to contribute quickly: “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.”
Atlanta’s defense features a mix of experience and youth with returning contributors such as A.J. Terrell and Kaden Elliss alongside newcomers like Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., whose development will be closely watched.
“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.
In terms of pass rush performance last season: through Week 12 Atlanta ranked last in sacks with only 12 but improved significantly from Weeks 13-18 by recording 21 sacks—second most behind only Dallas—which demonstrated how coaching adjustments can affect results during a season.
Improving turnover margin is also seen as crucial for playoff hopes; last year only one team among those finishing top ten in turnover margin failed to reach postseason play.
“As far as every single time we’re on this grass, we’re ball hunting,” Ulbrich said. “Because ultimately, that dictates the game.”
