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 second 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 check out Will McFadden’s seven-round mock draft here.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — I know what you're thinking: "Another mock draft from Tori, geez." But I promise you, this one is different! It's a 7-round mock draft! So, more picks!
And I really did take that to heart. If you have listened to any podcast I have been on in the last few months and/or any opinion article I have written in that same time span, you know I am all about the Falcons accruing more draft capital. They only have five picks. I need more because the Falcons have a lot of needs.
Those most poignant needs come in the form of impactful defensive starters. So, that's what I am going into this mock draft ready to acquire on every single day. Plus, I am going to try to get as many picks back as I possibly can while I am at it.
Let's do this.
First round — Pick No. 15: TRADE
The Atlanta Falcons send to the Los Angeles Chargers:
- 15 (1st round)
- 118 (4th round)
The Los Angeles Chargers send to the Atlanta Falcons:
- 22 (1st round)
- 55 (2nd round)
- 125 (4th round)
- 158 (5th round)
- 181 (6th round)
The Chargers are in great need of an offensive weapon, and in this specific scenario, offensive weapons are coming off the board much quicker than expected while majority of the edge rushers and defensive linemen fall outside the top-10. If the Chargers want a shot at (let's say) Colston Loveland, Matthew Golden or even Tetairoa McMillan if he's there then they can't let teams like the Cardinals (16), Seahawks (18) or Broncos (20) take their shot.
With 10 picks in this year's draft class — thanks to four in the sixth round, alone — the Chargers have more than enough capital to play with. They were also willing to part ways with their fifth-round pick to move up in the fourth round, too. This was something the Falcons were willing to play ball with in order to assure a second and fifth, specifically.
First round — Pick No. 22: EDGE Mykel Williams (Georgia)
In this scenario, Mike Green was off the board as was Abdul Carter and Jalon Carter (who both went in the top 10. Though Shemar Stewart was still available, I prefer the play style of Williams. Stewart may have a higher athletic ceiling, but his floor and accrued production in college are lower than that of Williams. I get that Stewart's best football may be ahead of him, but I can't shake the feeling that at this point in the Falcons trajectory, I can't gamble on that being true. I need someone proven, and despite a down year for Williams in 2024 because of an injury, I think he is that.
The way Georgia cross trained and deployed him is important to note, too. He's aligned all over the defensive front through two years as a starter. If the Falcons want to maximize the ability to be creative with their edge rushers along with their continued plan for someone like Kaden Elliss at linebacker, I feel like Williams provides that upside based on how he worked off of someone like Jalon Walker in college.
Second round — Pick No. 46: CB Trey Amos (Ole Miss)
This may be a little bit of a stretch to think Amos falls to No. 46, but hey, crazier things have happened. If he's there, I am taking him.
He's someone who has the traits and look of a player primed for a starting spot in the league. I like that he's played in a multitude of systems with varying coverage responsibilities (press, zone, off-man) and with some big-time playmakers (think Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold during his Alabama years). As a five-year senior, Amos has seen a little bit of everything the SEC has to offer and he's stepped up in each season, but particularly his last with Ole Miss (three interceptions, 16 passes defended). If he's on the up-and-up, the Falcons should find value in him.
It also helps that Atlanta retained Mike Hughes. It allows Amos to slide into a starting spot outside opposite A.J. Terrell, while Hughes has the flexibility to move inside. It would put the Falcons in a good spot depth-wise at defensive back.
Second round — Pick No. 55: S Xavier Watts (Notre Dame)
I have really enjoyed watching Watts play these last couple years. So much so I would bring him to Atlanta if I had the chance. Which would you lookie there. I do.
Watts has a skillset that is a bit more layered than specific. He's done a little bit of everything for the Irish, from rover linebacker to free safety, plus he has production that cannot be overlooked. To the tune of being a two-time All-American with 13 interceptions, no touchdown catches allowed over the last two seasons.
Despite this, Watts could be overlooked by teams because his measurables are not as impressive as others in the position group. However, for the Falcons purposes of being 1) creative in scheme, and 2) partnering up someone with Jessie Bates III, I think someone like Watts would absolutely fit the bill of both character makeup and what the Falcons could expect from him physically.
DeMarcco Hellams is returning from a season-ending injury last year, but will he be on an upward trajectory following a year on the sideline? The Falcons need a proven starter at safety as much as they do anywhere. With Watts, I would argue you have that.
Third round: TRADE
The Atlanta Falcons sent to the New York Giants:
- 158 (5th round)
- 181 via Chargers (6th round)
- 218 (7th round)
- 242 (7th round)
- A 2026 fourth- and sixth-round pick
The New York Giants sent to the Atlanta Falcons:
- 99 (3rd round)
- 154 (5th round)
Third round — Pick No. 99: DT Ty Robinson (Nebraska)
This right here is a big dude and plays with a toughness the Falcons could absolutely use in the interior with Grady Jarrett no longer anchoring the group. Robinson would be a nice addition to the young core of defensive tackles the Falcons already have with Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus. Robinson would add to that rotation and play with a physicality and power that served him well in college.
Overall, he just seems like a guy who loves this game and gives it 110%. I can get on board with that even if all the traits aren't there. Will power and want-to matters, too.
Fourth round — Pick No. 125: C Drew Kendall (Boston College)
I know what you're thinking: "Tori, I thought you said you were not going to draft an offensive player in this year's draft?! You swore it!!"
And to that I say… That was when the Falcons only had five picks (two of which were seventh rounders). Now that they have some more picks to play with, I thought I would give the offense a little something to let them know I was thinking about them.
That, and I do think the Falcons need to bring in competition for Ryan Neuzil. After losing one center named Drew who had a successful offensive lineman for a father… I decided to give the Falcons another center named Drew who had a successful offensive lineman for a father. Original, I know.
Fifth round — Pick No. 154: EDGE Jared Ivey (Ole Miss)
I had to do a lot of maneuvering and convincing to pick up this fifth-round pick. So, you had to know I was going defense, particularly edge rusher.
Ivey is someone who I have covered previously as a kid from North Gwinnett high school and, later, during his first couple months as an early enrollee at Georgia Tech. I liked his length and athletic play style back then, and that has only grown as he has. Heck, I even liked watching him play basketball, too.
He's someone who has upside and who I feel is on already on an upward trajectory. He could home in his skills as a pass rusher to better utilize his length, but I think a perfect person for him to work with on that specifically is someone like Leonard Floyd, who has made a career out of utilizing his length. This could be a pairing that sets up someone like Ivey for future success.
