The landscape of college football has undergone significant changes over the past five years. The NCAA’s decisions to extend eligibility timelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allow athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), and modify transfer rules have reshaped discussions around the NFL draft.
The Atlanta Falcons’ 2025 NFL draft class stands out as each of their five picks spent their entire collegiate careers at a single program. The Minnesota Vikings are the only other team with a similar record in this year’s draft.
The Falcons’ selections were:
– Round 1, Pick 15: Jalon Walker, edge rusher from Georgia
– Round 1, Pick 26: James Pearce Jr., edge rusher from Tennessee
– Round 3, Pick 96: Xavier Watts, safety from Notre Dame
– Round 4, Pick 118: Billy Bowman Jr., defensive back from Oklahoma
– Round 7, Pick 218: Jack Nelson, offensive tackle from Wisconsin
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris remarked on this unusual pattern saying, “I thought that was pretty unique.” General manager Terry Fontenot added that while it is challenging for scouts when players attend multiple schools, “it’s not a disqualifier.”
This year’s No. 1 overall pick was quarterback Cam Ward who played for three different schools before being selected by the Tennessee Titans. Despite his transfers between Incarnate Word, Washington State, and Miami over four years, he secured his position as a top pick.
Fontenot commented on the varied paths players take in college football today: “There’s so many different stories,” he said. However, he acknowledged that such details often go unnoticed until pointed out.
Morris noted that they selected players from prominent programs where transfers are less common. Fontenot echoed this sentiment by emphasizing their commitment to retaining talent within such programs.
Reflecting on previous drafts shows that this approach is not new for the Falcons. Last year’s first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. transferred during his college career after initially playing for Indiana before moving to Washington.
Both Morris and Fontenot expressed satisfaction with their current selections and remain focused on player potential rather than transfer history. As Morris put it regarding two draftees unfamiliar with NIL dynamics: “That’s pretty cool when we sit up here trying to think about it right now.”
