Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The 2025 NFL Draft is drawing nearer, which means we're closer to learning who will be the newest Atlanta Falcon.

There's a strong consensus building that Atlanta will use the draft to fortify its defense, and its first opportunity to do that will be at pick No. 15 in the first round.

With the draft just weeks away, we're going through some key positions of need and profiling players who just might fit what Atlanta is looking for. We've already named some edge rushers and interior defensive linemen to keep an eye on, but today I'll be focusing on a position away from the trenches. It's entirely possible Atlanta adds to its secondary in this year's draft, so let's go through some of the top options.

Here are the cornerback prospects who make sense for the Falcons on each day of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Day 1

Jahdae Barron, Texas

Last year, the Falcons added a number of versatile players to the front of their defense. Would they want to do something similar on the back end? If so, Barron is one of the most versatile players in this draft and could be very enticing. The Texas star played more than 300 slot snaps for the Longhorns during both the 2022 and 2023 seasons before moving to outside corner in 2024, where he played nearly 700 snaps. He's very reactive in coverage and quick to trigger on the ball, which helps explain his eight career interceptions. Barron would be a chess piece for Atlanta's defense, and he would add to nearly every facet of the game.

Will Johnson, Michigan

At one point, Johnson was viewed as the consensus top cornerback in this draft not named Travis Hunter. His stock has seemingly taken a hit in recent weeks, but the Falcons could stand to benefit. The primary concerns about Johnson seem to be his injury history and his top-end speed to carry receivers deep. Both are fair concerns for a potential top-15 pick, but Johnson offers a lot of upside and has a skillset that translates well to the league. He possesses soft, decisive feet that allow him to trigger quickly on the ball and is a smart player who reads the quarterback. That helped Johnson pick off nine passes during his career and return three for touchdowns.

He is 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds with long arms which allow him to disrupt a lot of passes. Johnson is better suited for a zone defense, but that's no problem for Atlanta. The Falcons deployed zone coverage 77% of the time in 2024, the sixth-highest rate in the league, according to Next Gen Stats. Johnson has all the makings of a quality NFL corner and should be a starter for a long time.

Pick(s): No. 15 overall

Other Day 1 options: N/A

Day 2

Shavon Revel, East Carolina

Revel is a fascinating prospect. He's 6-foot-2, 194 pounds with a wingspan that ranks in the 94th percentile of cornerbacks in the Mockdraftable database, a website that tracks verified testing and measurements of draft prospects. On tape, Revel's speed stands out and he's explosive when accelerating and closing. All of that makes for a match-up versatile cornerback with the length to make any window miniscule. Revel's size is put to use in run defense, and he plays with a distinct attitude in this aspect of the game.

The primary concern with Revel is a torn ACL he sustained in practice three games into the 2024 season. That injury has sidelined Revel throughout the draft process, but the recent updates have been positive. A post by Ryan Fowler, an analyst at The Draft Network, showed Revel reaching 21 miles per hour on the treadmill and said he is on track to be fully cleared by summer. Teams will undoubtedly have their own information on that front, but Revel could be a steal on Day 2 if he recovers fully.

Trey Amos, Ole Miss

I usually never pass up the chance to sing the praises of Maxwell Hairston, who I think could actually find his way into the first round, but I wanted to spotlight another player who I really like for the Falcons. Amos has all the makings of a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL, but he's got relatively little fanfare because of his somewhat modest stats over five college seasons.

Amos blanketed receivers for three seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette before transferring to Alabama for the 2023 season and Ole Miss for the 2024 season. It was with the Rebels that Amos had his breakout year with 50 tackles, 13 passes defensed, three interceptions and a forced fumble. He's athletic, instinctual, physical and competitive — all of which are the makings of a very good cornerback. It wouldn't be stunning for Amos to go in the first round, but he has the makings of a Day 2 steal for the right team.

Pick(s): No. 46 overall

Other Day 2 options: Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State), Darien Porter (Iowa State), Quincy Riley (Louisville)

Day 3

Jacob Parrish, Kansas State

Parrish is undersized at 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds, which is why he could slip, but he makes up for it with his demeanor on the field. Pesky is the perfect word to describe Parrish's incessant habit of sticking in a receiver's hip pocket. He does not mind getting physical with opponents, although he can get grabby for stretches, and embodies the play-fast mindset. Parrish makes his presence felt on the field through his instincts and his attitude. He projects really well as a slot corner at the next level with a role on special teams. Atlanta just re-signed Dee Alford, but Parrish would make for fascinating competition.

Mac McWilliams, Central Florida

McWilliams is a player who could be there in the seventh round for Atlanta. As with any player in this range, there are a lot of nits to pick. For McWilliams, the biggest drawback is his size. He's 5-foot-10, 185 pounds and has short arms, and those deficiencies show up on tape. However, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds, a time that also shows up on tape, and shows absolutely zero hesitancy in playing downhill against the run. That skill, alone, is enough to get my attention in the seventh round, and McWilliams figures to be a decent reserve slot corner with a role on special teams.

Pick(s): No. 118 overall (4th round), No. 218 overall (7th round), No. 242 overall (7th round)

Other Day 3 options: Cobee Bryant (Kansas), Zy Alexander (LSU), Alijah Huzzie (UNC), Upton Stout (Western Kentucky), Fentrell Cypress II (Florida State), Tommi Hill (Nebraska)