FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — General manager Terry Fontenot slept very well Thursday night after the Atlanta Falcons' first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Two proven edge rushers in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.? Success.
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And then Fontenot woke up Friday morning to a text from assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray that got his mind already planning for the second and third rounds.
"Hey, congratulations on last night," it said. "Great moves. Very excited about what we're adding to this team. Great night. But in the famous words of Janet Jackson, she famously sang, 'What have you done for me lately?'"
Fontenot knew the Falcons needed to draft somebody for the secondary.
Atlanta entered Friday with just one pick – No. 101 in the third round — after a first-round trade that involved the Falcons' original 46th pick in the second round. Fontenot was patient initially, until picks in the 90s started ticking off the board. When No. 96 rolled around, it was announced the Falcons traded with the Philadelphia Eagles to move up and select Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts.
"We all like him," Fontenot said. "Starting with the makeup, outstanding character. Serious worker. Competitor. High-end instincts. Former receiver. Ball hawk. More picks than anybody in college ball last two years.
"This guy's a stud."
Watts was a two-year starter at the University of Notre Dame. Between the 2023-24 seasons, he totaled 134 tackles, with 6.5 for a loss, in addition to half a sack, two forced fumbles, 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed. During his final year, he had a 100-yard pick six, too.
Those 13 picks were most in the NCAA these past two seasons combined. No other player broke double digits.
"It's not by coincidence," Watts said. "I have a really good feeling for the game of football, and I'm able to get the ball."
The 23-year-old stands at 6 feet and weighs 205 pounds.
That stature may look familiar. Falcons veteran safety Jessie Bates III is 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds at 28 years old.
Their similarities don't end there.
"He's very instinctual like Jessie Bates," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "He's not afraid to take those shots and take those chances when necessary. Definitely can see the ball flight coming out of the quarterback's hands. Does some of those things really well. When you have all those things, that's just really about it. Ball skills and ball awareness, which you talk about. And this guy has both ball skills and ball awareness — and I think at a really high level."
Bates is a locked-in starter in Atlanta and was a team captain in 2024. His running mate at safety, however, remains a question.
The Falcons signed veteran Jordan Fuller during free agency, who has five years of NFL experience compared to Bates' seven. DeMarcco Hellams is back for his third year in Atlanta after an ankle injury sidelined him in 2024. Kevin King was re-signed as a cornerback but has safety history during his six years in the league.
"And having Watts come in here, compete with those guys, get the chance to get on the field and really be productive for us is something that we look forward to doing this spring," he said.
Watts is bringing plenty of his own experience to the mix. A team captain for the Irish in 2024, Watts was a consensus two-time All-American and has played in 55 games. Competition is something Watts is looking forward to, but so is working with someone so similar.
"I'm really glad to be part of the Falcons because Jessie Bates is a player I model my game after," Watts said. "I'm really excited to be teammates with him.
Watts wasn't the only one excited about his impending arrival in Atlanta.
Fontenot received at least one more text Friday before another good night's sleep. This one was about Watts specifically.
"I got one from Manti Te'o just now," Fontenot said. "He said, 'Absolute stud.'"
Join us as we take a look at the 2025 NFL draft class for the Atlanta Falcons, presented by Truist.
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sets up for a play against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) sacks TCU quarterback Max Duggan (15) during the second half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) works against Florida offensive lineman Austin Barber (58) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) reacts to making a sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
UTEP quarterback JP Pickles (19) is sacked by Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) lines up for a play during an NCAA football game against Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. Arkansas won 19-14. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
Photos of the Georgia Tech vs Notre Dame Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, October 19, 2024. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) leaps up to try and make an interception near the sideline as Northern Illinois full back Brock Lampe (49) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) tries to rip the ball away from Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)
Scenes from the College Football National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. on Monday, January 20, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) celebrates after intercepting a Texas pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) tackles UCF running back RJ Harvey (7) in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. warms up before an NCAA college football game against Texas at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Dallas. Texas won 34-3. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) tackles BYU running back Aidan Robbins (3) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Wisconsin offensive lineman Jack Nelson smiles on the bench during the an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Wisconsin's Jack Nelson lines up during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Southern Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin's Jack Nelson lines up during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Southern Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Wisconsin offensive lineman Jack Nelson (79) plays against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
