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The Atlanta Falcons have been so busy over the last 48 hours that their 19-17 win over the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 NFL season finale feels like ages ago. The team fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot shortly after Sunday's game.
While the Falcons have already begun their search for a new head coach-GM combo, there is a lot to like about the team's current roster. Atlanta's 2025 draft class outperformed even the most optimistic of expectations.
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First-round picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. were as good as advertised, while third-round pick Xavier Watts proved to be arguably the biggest steal in the draft. Walker was one of the best all-around players on the Falcons defense. Pearce led all rookies with 10.5 sacks. Plus, Watts led the 2025 class with five interceptions.
These contributions weren't enough to save Fontenot's job, but they certainly make the job more appealing for the next general manager and head coach. The Falcons also received major contributions from fourth-round pick Billy Bowman Jr. before he tore his Achilles in practice.
Pro Football Focus put out a new feature grading all 32 first-round picks following the 2025 NFL season finale. Here's what PFF had to say about Walker and Pearce.
Jalon Walker Week 18 grade: 63.6
Walker performed his primary duties well in Week 18, tallying three pressures and earning a solid 73.6 PFF pass-rush grade. His two run stops also earned him an 80.9 PFF run-defense grade. His lone blemishes were two catches allowed in coverage for 27 yards. Walker finished his rookie season with 29 pressures, six sacks and a team-leading 81.3 PFF run-defense grade. - Dalton Wasserrman, PFF
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James Pearce Week 18 grade: 68.9
Pearce racked up four more pressures and two sacks in the Falcons' Week 18 victory over the Saints. He’s a big reason that Atlanta's pass rush has improved so much this season, and he is a legitimate Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Pearce's 11 sacks led all rookies, and he placed second — behind the Giants' Abdul Carter — in pressures (45). He’ll need to find greater consistency in the run game, but there is at least some hope that he and fellow first-rounder Jalon Walker can spearhead the Falcons’ pass rush in future seasons. - Dalton Wasserrman, PFF
Pearce's two-sack performance helped him finish with a higher Week 18 grade than Walker, but he earned a lower overall grade for his rookie season. The former Tennessee standout earned a 57.8 PFF grade, while Walker finished the season with a 71.6 grade.
As for Watts, he topped both of his fellow rookies with a final grade of 72.4 this season. The former Notre Dame standout was ranked No. 36 on PFF's big board prior to the 2025 NFL draft, and the Falcons moved up five spots in the third round to secure him at pick No. 96.
Regardless of who the next head coach and general manager are, the Falcons have three potential stars to build around on defense.
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Make sure to follow along with the team's search for a new head coach and general manager using our interview tracker.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, James Pearce PFF season grades
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