Falcons Team Notes

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons projected to take Georgia players in two new mock drafts

Despite the success of the University of Georgia football program over the last few years, the Atlanta Falcons have rarely targeted Bulldogs players in the draft. For whatever reason, the team always seems to go in a different direction.

It’s bound to happen at some point and the 2025 NFL draft seems as good a time as any. Georgia is expected to deliver another talented class in April, featuring several top defensive prospects at positions of need for Atlanta.

We’ve seen draft analysts from across the country project different Bulldogs players to Atlanta in 2025. NFL.com released two different mock drafts in the last week that feature Atlanta taking Georgia linebackers.

NFL.com‘s Gennaro Filice projected the team to take Jalon Walker in Round 1, citing defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich‘s plan to create unique looks:

Walker’s a versatile defender, having split time between edge and off-ball linebacker at Georgia, and I think his explosive skill set would transfer well from Athens to Atlanta — especially with new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich promising outside-the-box thinking in his plan to “create something that’s maybe never been done before from a schematic standpoint.” — Gennaro Filice, NFL.com

Filice’s colleague at NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah, dropped his second official mock on Tuesday and has the Falcons taking another Georgia defender. This time, it’s edge rusher Mykel Williams.

“One of these years, I’m going to be right, and the Falcons will take a pass rusher in the first round,” wrote Jeremiah.

Both Bulldogs players are considered first-round prospects, but there’s been some debate over where they will be picked. Williams has been mocked to Atlanta more than any other player. Walker seems to range anywhere from top-10 to late in the first round.

Williams is more of a true edge rusher while Walker has the advantage when it comes to versatility. Either way, the Falcons need plenty of help on defense and could find a role for either player.

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Source: https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/20/falcons-2025-nfl-draft-georgia-jalon-walker/

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Who were the last 15 NFL players drafted with pick No. 15?

After landing top-10 picks in the last four drafts, the Atlanta Falcons will finally end their top-10 streak in 2025. The team finished the 2024 season with a record of 8-9, earning the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

While the Falcons are less likely to land a blue-chip prospect in the middle of the first round, the draft should feature plenty of impact players available at pick No. 15.

To give you a better idea of the type of player Atlanta could land in Round 1, here’s a look at the last 15 players drafted 15th overall:

2024: DE Laiatu Latu - Indianapolis Colts

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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2023: DE Will McDonald - New York Jets

© Grant Halverson/Getty Images

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2022: OL Kenyon Green - Houston Texans

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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2021: QB Mac Jones - New England Patriots

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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2020: WR Jerry Jeudy - Denver Broncos

© Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

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2019: QB Dwayne Haskins - Washington

© Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

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2018: OL Kolton Miller - Raiders

© (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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2017: S Malik Hooker - Indianapolis Colts

© Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

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2016: WR Corey Coleman - Cleveland Browns

© Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

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2015: RB Melvin Gordon - San Diego Chargers

© Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

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2014: LB Ryan Shazier - Pittsburgh Steelers

© Sam Greene via Imagn images

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2013: S Kenny Vaccaro - New Orleans Saints

© Chris Graythen/Getty Images

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2012: DE Bruce Irvin - Seattle Seahawks

© (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

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2011: OL Mike Pouncey - Miami Dolphins

© Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

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Source: https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com...-last-15-nfl-players-drafted-with-pick-no-15/

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

How much cap space do Falcons have after NFL's projected increase?

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot spent his first two seasons in Atlanta fixing an atrocious salary cap situation. The bloated contracts of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones limited the team’s options up until the 2023 offseason.

The Falcons used the money to retain some key players while bringing in a few big-name free agents. Signing safety Jessie Bates has been a home run thus far, but Kirk Cousins‘ contract is one that this team surely regrets handing out.

Cousins’ uncertain future and monster contract could hinder Atlanta’s offseason options in 2025. Fortunately, the NFL is raising the salary cap. “The league provided clubs a projected salary cap range of $277.5 million to $281.5 million per club for the 2025 season,” wrote NFL.com’s Kevin Patra.

So where do the Falcons stand after these projected changes? While nothing is official yet, Over The Cap‘s updated projections list the team with a cap deficit of $4.9 million.

Obviously, the situation isn’t ideal, but it’s considerably better than where the Falcons previously stood at around $12 million over the cap.

The team has some tough decisions to make with free agency starting in a few weeks. The Falcons have 30 impending free agents, including linebacker Matthew Judon and center Drew Dalman.

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Source: https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/21/falcons-nfl-salary-cap-news/

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

NFL analyst recommends Falcons extend star wide receiver

The Atlanta Falcons aren’t in ideal shape with the salary cap, but they need to start locking up their young talent. Players like Drake London and Bijan Robinson are coming off career years and it won’t be long before their rookie contracts are up.

Both players will be eligible for a fifth-year option — London’s coming in 2026 and Robinson’s in 2027 — and the team will almost certainly exercise them. However, getting a long-term extension done will help the Falcons plan for the future around talented quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Pro Football Network analyzed the biggest question facing each team’s wide receiver group. For Atlanta, PFN recommended the team focus on extending London before he gets too expensive:

The wide receiver market has steadily risen in recent years, and the likes of Chase, Tee Higgins, and Garrett Wilson will only push that market higher. London’s game fits beautifully with Michael Penix Jr.’s inclination to push the ball downfield. In Penix’s starts the final three weeks, London averaged 117 yards per game while receiving an absurd 39.4% target rate.

For context, the highest target rate for the season was 38.3% by Puka Nacua. Given London’s strong chemistry with Penix, the Falcons would be wise to extend him before his asking price rises even higher. — Pro Football Network

London posted 100 catches for 1,271 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season. The 23-year-old showed great chemistry with Penix down the stretch, recording 17 catches for 293 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the final two games.

The addition of wide receiver Darnell Mooney also played a role in opening things up for London’s first 1,000-yard season of his career. Mooney nearly topped the milestone himself in 2024 but finished eight yards short (992 total) after sitting out of the season finale.

The Falcons will need to manage the cap around Penix better than they did when Matt Ryan was still in Atlanta. Kirk Cousins‘ contract has only made things worse, but it should only affect the team for one more season.

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Source: https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/21/falcons-drake-london-nfl/

 

[Atlanta Falcons]

Falcons send Kirk Cousins to rebuilding AFC team in proposed trade

The Atlanta Falcons were initially praised for signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract during the 2024 offseason, but that move has not aged well. Cousins never looked fully healthy and eventually lost his job due to poor performance.

With Michael Penix Jr. in place, there’s no need for Cousins to stick around as an overpaid backup. Many around the NFL assume the Falcons will have no choice but to release Cousins, which would incur a dead cap hit of $65 million.

But what if Atlanta can find a trade partner for the veteran quarterback? Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton created seven blockbuster trade proposals, including one that sends Cousins to the Cleveland Browns for a 2025 fourth-round pick:

After dealing Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Chargers, they can bring in a bridge quarterback to fill the void while Deshaun Watson recovers from two Achilles tears. The Browns can still take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick. Alternatively, they could also target edge-rusher Abdul Carter or receiver-cornerback Travis Hunter with Cousins on the roster on a manageable deal. Cleveland may get the Falcons to pay some of Cousins’ 2025 salary. — Moe Moton, Bleacher Report

The article goes on to cite Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski’s prior relationship with Cousins in Minnesota, which definitely makes sense on paper. Cleveland needs a starting-caliber bridge quarterback and Atlanta has one to spare.

In a perfect world, the Browns and Falcons would agree to a post-June 1 trade. This would free up over $27 million in cap space for Atlanta while incurring a dead cap hit of just $12.5 million, but that probably isn’t realistic.

Since the Falcons are likely to eat a big chunk of the quarterback’s salary whether they cut or trade him prior to June 1, getting a fourth-round pick would have to be considered a win for Atlanta.

If the Falcons pull off a trade during the draft or early in free agency, they would take on over $37 million in dead cap space and free up $2.5 million.

Check out the team’s full list of players set to hit free agency when the new league year begins in March.

More Latest Falcons News!​

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NFL analyst recommends Falcons extend star wide receiver​

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Falcons RB Bijan Robinson earned higher grade than Saquon Barkley in 2024​

Source: https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/2025/02/22/falcons-browns-kirk-cousins-trade-proposal/