Falcons’ first-round gamble projected for ‘quiet’ rookie year, potential bust

The scatter nan Atlanta Falcons made successful nan 2025 NFL Draft is still being debated. Did they — aliases did they not — make nan correct determination successful nan first round?

There’s nary mobility nan Falcons were correct to yet reside their long-standing walk unreserved problem — it’s conscionable really they did it that raised eyebrows. While selecting Georgia’s Jalon Walker astatine No. 15 wide came arsenic nary surprise, nan shocker came 11 picks later erstwhile Atlanta traded backmost into nan first information to prime James Pearce Jr. astatine No. 26.

That move came astatine a steep cost. The Falcons surrendered their 2026 first-round prime to nan Los Angeles Rams to unafraid Pearce. Now, Atlanta has to dream that bet pays off.

“There’s a morganatic interest that Walker and Pearce could some return a while to fig things out,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine wrote.

Fellow Bleacher Report expert Kristopher Knox believes it’s Pearce, specifically, who could beryllium this year’s biggest disappointment.

“Former Tennessee merchandise James Pearce Jr. will look incredibly precocious expectations aft nan Atlanta Falcons traded their 2026 first-round prime to nan Los Angeles Rams arsenic portion of nan package to get him,” Knox wrote. “The problem is that Pearce whitethorn beryllium excessively earthy to meet those expectations arsenic a rookie.

“With chap first-round prime Jalon Walker and free-agent summation Dante Fowler Jr. besides connected nan separator for nan Falcons, Pearce could beryllium successful shop for a amazingly quiet rookie campaign.”

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Last season, nan Falcons attempted to reside their pass-rushing woes done nan draft, taking protect tackle Ruke Orhorhoro successful nan 2nd round, Bralen Trice successful nan third, Brandon Dorlus successful nan fourth, and JD Bertrand successful nan fifth. That group produced a mixed 1 sack and zero starts.

Trice, successful particular, was expected to make a awesome impact, but a season-ending wounded derailed his rookie year. The Athletic's Josh Kendall believes nan Falcons will beryllium banking connected him, Walker and Pearce to hole nan team's walk unreserved woes, contempt each having virtually nary NFL experience.

“They are counting connected 1 of those players, aliases immoderate operation of each three, boosting what is historically 1 of nan league’s worst walk rushes,” Kendall said. “Atlanta vanished 31st successful sacks past twelvemonth pinch 31 and is nan only squad successful nan NFL pinch less than 300 sacks complete nan past 10 years. The Falcons mislaid bodies, including Grady Jarrett, connected nan protect interior, and didn’t adhd overmuch astatine cornerback, truthful they are putting a batch of religion successful getting much unit connected nan quarterback.”