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.
Editor's Note: This is the third and final of three separate seven-round mock drafts that will be published by the Atlanta Falcons' editorial team ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. You can view Will McFadden’s mock draft here. You can view Tori McElhaney's mock draft here.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Who decided it was a good idea to give me first-person power?
I, Terrin Waack, welcome you, the reader, to my 2025 NFL Mock Draft for the Atlanta Falcons. The team arrives to Green Bay, Wisconsin, with five picks. It leaves with six selections thanks to yours truly.
Let's get right to it. Here are my selections:
First round — Pick No. 15: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)
Pass rush. Pass rush. Pass rush. The Falcons must improve their pass rush in 2025. That has been a hot storyline since the 2024 season ended, considering the defense finished second to last in the league with 31 sacks. Well, this – in my mock at least – is finally the year Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot drafts not only a defensive player but an edge rusher in the first round.
Ezeiruaku had an incredible senior season. His final stat line featured 80 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss (fourth most in FBS), 16.5 sacks (second most in the FBS), three forced fumbles and a pass breakup. He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, understandably so since he led the conference in both sacks and tackles for loss. I know his prior seasons weren't as flashy when it came to taking down the quarterback – three sacks in 2021, 8.5 in 2022 and two in 2023 – but his numbers remained consistent in other regards – three forced fumbles and two pass breakups in 2022 and two forced fumbles and a pass breakup in 2023. It's a well-rounded resume.
Oh, and I forgot perhaps the most important part: Ezeiruaku won the most recent Ted Hendricks Award, which is given to college football's top defensive end. Enough said. Underrated prospect, in my opinion.
Second round — Pick No. 46: TRADE
Atlanta Falcons send to Denver Broncos:
- Round 2, No. 46
Denver Broncos send to Atlanta Falcons:
- Round 2, No. 51
- Round 4, No. 122
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has never made a first-round trade since joining the organization in 2021. He has, however, made a second-round trade every year. Normally – three out of four times – he trades up, and that one time down was in his first year. The Falcons have a franchise-low five picks in 2025, though, so gotta do what you gotta do. Fontenot has yet to put together a trade package that isn't 2-for-1 or 2-for-2. Therefore, I'm sticking to that formula but making it 1-for-2 in the Falcons' favor for once.
Second round — Pick No. 51: CB Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina)
Because the Falcons re-signed Mike Hughes, to a three-year deal nonetheless, I went back and forth on whether to draft a cornerback. Hughes will presumably return to his spot as the starting corner opposite A.J. Terrell. They could be running mates through at least the 2028 season, before Hughes becomes a free agent and then Terrell does so in 2029. I chose to still draft a cornerback because none of that is guaranteed, and the Falcons need a good backup option anyway — whether that's Revel or Hughes. It's better to have depth and competition. Revel would have the opportunity to learn from a pair of veterans and ease into the NFL world after the ACL injury that shortened his senior season.
There were a few other cornerbacks still on the board when this pick rolled around, such as Iowa State's Darien Porter and Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison. I did take the time look to at them. I chose to believe Revel is a Day 2 steal because of his injury. He had a breakout 2023 season, which leaves curiosity about what a healthy 2024 could have looked like and a desire to find out in 2025 at the next level. Personally – and what truly tipped the scale in Revel's favor – I did not attend ECU but have a weird amount of close friends who did, so this one's for those Pirates I do know and love.
Fourth round — Pick No. 118: EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo (UCLA)
Doubling down on edge rushers since improving the pass rush is, again, such a priority this offseason. Even veteran Leonard Floyd said "the more, the merrier" after he signed with the Falcons as a free agent last month. I might as well grab another option in Day 3 to really give the Falcons a variety to test in training camp. You really never know who is going to boom or bust in the NFL.
This might sound weird, but I think Oladejo's lack of action at edge could actually be a good thing. He's still rather fresh at the gig. Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich can morph him into a pass rusher of his choice. For most of his collegiate career, Oladejo was an inside linebacker, starting 17 games across all four seasons. He started 10 games at edge only in his final season. And yet, he led the Bruins in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (13.5) in 2024. If anything, the diverse background could benefit his and the Falcons' futures. It certainly shouldn't hurt it.
Fourth round — Pick No. 122: C Seth McLaughlin (Ohio State)
After Drew Dalman became a free agent and signed with the Chicago Bears, the Falcons penciled Ryan Neuzil in as their starting center. Neuzil started eight games for the Falcons last season when Dalman was out with an ankle injury. The majority of Neuzil's game snaps were paired with former starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, but Neuzil otherwise practiced with current starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. So, this makes sense. A connection exists.
However, if Neuzil were to get injured, the Falcons don't have an experienced backup option already in house. Jovaughn Gwyn and Matthew Cindric have only seen preseason reps at center. Bringing in a rookie with at least recent game work could not only be an easy fix but also a future one. Besides, who better to plug into the offensive line than the Rimington Trophy winner? McLaughlin was deemed "the most outstanding center in Division 1 football" last year.
Seventh round — Pick No. 218: S Malachi Moore (Alabama)
I want to see how DeMarcco Hellams bounces back from the ankle injury that sidelined him the entire 2024 season before investing first- or second-day draft capital on another safety. Hellams was trending in the right direction both as a rookie and in his second training camp. Besides, the Falcons signed Jordan Fuller in free agency, so there's already competition for the spot opposite Jessie Bates III. Moore can learn and develop in a reserve role and maybe even show off on special teams in the meantime. He did score a touchdown on a blocked punt in 2022.
Also, a fun fact I discovered that partially fueled this decision: In 2020, Moore became the first true freshman defensive back to start in an opener for the Crimson Tide since Minkah Fitzpatrick did so in a 2015 game I covered. That's good company to keep, regardless of where Moore ends up being selected in real life. Fitzpatrick was a first-rounder in 2018 and has since earned three AP All-Pro first-team honors and five Pro Bowl appearances.
Seventh round — Pick No. 242: T Jalen Travis (Iowa State)
To be completely honest, Travis was the highest-rated offensive tackle available, and that's why I blindly picked him. The Falcons should start thinking about the future of their offensive line, especially the tackle position. On the left side, Jake Matthews is 33 years old and entering his 12th season. Though he literally signed a contract extension just last month that'll keep him in Atlanta through the 2028 season, Mr. Consistent is bound to retire at some point. Same thing with Kaleb McGary on the right side. He's a bit younger – 30 years old, embarking on his seventh season – but set to hit free agency after the 2025 season. So, it'd be smart to bring in a rookie to soak up knowledge from these veterans while around.
It was a long shot, but I was hoping Hollin Pierce would still be on the board. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked him at No. 229 in my simulation. Regardless, I'm giving him an honorable mention here as the largest tackle in the draft class. Pierce is 6-foot-8 and 341 pounds. Travis, meanwhile, is 6-foot-7 and 339 pounds, so still not a stature to scoff at.
