Bishop Media Sports Network
Even Ground
By: Cameron Miller
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Let’s not sugarcoat it, the Atlanta Braves began the 2025 about as poorly as you could imagine, which put them in trouble. Deep trouble.
The Braves were a team that came into the season with real championship aspirations and a roster that’s loaded with All-Star talent. The first half of this season so far was really nothing short of a flat out failure.
They’ve been dealing with major injuries such as a pair of their young Superstars, Ronald Acuna Jr and Spencer Strider, being out of the lineup for them.
The injuries are one excuse, but at the end of the day you’ve got to step up with “next man up” mentality and that’s something they just couldn’t do at the beginning of the season. They had many of us wondering if this was really the same Braves team that once ruled the NL East.
So yes, reaching a .500 win percentage may not seem like much, because at this point it doesn’t even earn you a playoff spot, But make no mistake this milestone really does matter.
It marks a turning point in a season that, not too long ago, really looked like it might spiral into something we would all want to forget.
But here’s the thing about baseball, it gives you time. Time to figure it all out. Time to get healthy and get motivated.
And, over the past few weeks, the Braves finally have shown signs of life. They managed to claw their way back to .500 (21 wins & 21 losses) without the help of Ronald Acuna Jr or Spencer Strider and in doing so, they’ve reminded everyone around the league that they’re not going down without a fight.
The .500 mark isn’t about mediocrity; it’s about resilience and determination.
Eli White has been making a good start as a placeholder for Ronald Acuna Jr in right field, but Acuna is scheduled to rejoin the team for action on June 1st, so when he does make his way back in the starting lineup, the Braves will have another solid option in the field or at the plate if needed.
Spencer Strider on the other hand has been dealing with all different types of injuries; he has been dealing with a right elbow sprain since last season and right now it’s a right hamstring sprain he’s working to come back from.
Still, let’s not get too romantic about a .500 team. This roster was built to contend, not just merely survive.
The Braves aren’t in first place; they aren’t even leading the Wild Card race. But they’re alive and just a few weeks ago, that felt like a long shot. They picked up some steam just in time to try and give themselves a real chance to make a push in the NL East.
Reaching .500 isn’t a reason to celebrate, but it is a call to action. It’s a sign that the Braves have turned the tide just enough to make the rest of the season meaningful and enjoyable. And in a year where they were getting close to playing themselves out of relevance, that’s a victory worth acknowledging.
If they keep this momentum going, we’ll look back at this week not as a meaningless statistical checkpoint, but as the moment the 2025 Braves started to matter again.
Jason Bishop Show May 15 2025
Falcons to Thrive in 2025?
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 season is shaping up to be a turning point for the Atlanta Falcons.
There’s a new energy around the team, thanks to a mix of fresh talent, major roster shakeups, and a schedule full of primetime matchups. One name already making headlines is rookie linebacker Jalon Walker. He has the makings of a superstar.
Walker, a former Georgia Bulldog and Butkus Award winner, was a first-round pick this year and already has big expectations on his shoulders.
He made a name for himself in Athens with a monster 2024 season, and now he’s bringing that fire to the NFL, hoping to spark a new era for Atlanta’s defense.
And speaking of Bulldogs, one of the biggest games on the Falcons’ upcoming schedule will have a full-circle moment for Georgia fans.
The Falcons will face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football, and that means Walker will go head-to-head with Rams quarterback, and fellow Bulldog legend, Matthew Stafford.
Stafford was the No. 1 overall pick back in 2009 and is still one of the most respected QBs in the league. It’ll be the first time these two Bulldogs share the field, and it’s happening right back in Georgia.
But that’s just one of several big-time games on Atlanta’s radar. The Falcons are set to appear in five primetime games this season, which shows the league sees them as a team worth watching.
They’ll host the Bills and Rams on Monday Night Football, hit the road to take on the Vikings and 49ers on Sunday Night Football, and battle the Bucs on Thursday Night Football.
Oh, and don’t forget, the Birds are heading to Berlin in Week 10 to play the Colts in the NFL’s first-ever game in the German capital.
Last year, the Falcons went 3-2 under the lights, picking up wins against the Eagles, Raiders, and Bucs. They handled the spotlight relatively well last season, and they’ll get plenty more chances to show that they belong in primetime this year.
Of course, the team isn’t without its challenges. Grady Jarrett, a longtime anchor on the defensive line, is no longer with the team and his absence leaves some big shoes to fill.
That’s where Walker, fellow rookie James Pearce, and hopefully a few veteran additions come into play. There’s even talk that Atlanta could bring in someone like Jadeveon Clowney to help solidify the front seven.
And then there’s the quarterback situation. It appears Michael Penix Jr. is firmly entrenched as the starter, but it’s going to be fascinating to see if the Falcons hold on to Kirk Cousins, who would potentially be the highest paid backup quarterback in league history if some other team doesn’t try to pry him away.
Would Atlanta consider dealing him to a conference rival after the news that Derek Carr is retiring and the New Orleans Saints are left with only rookie Tyler Shough and the unproven Spencer Rattler?
Still, there’s plenty to be excited about. Drake London is blossoming into a star, the defense is getting younger and faster, and the schedule is packed with marquee matchups. It won’t be easy, but the Falcons are clearly aiming to build something sustainable.
The success of the Falcons will depend on how the pieces come together, but with so many eyes on Atlanta in 2025, fans won’t have to wait long to find out if this team is ready to “Rise Up”, or if they struggle to fly from the nest.
Either way, it should be a wild ride.
Storm Brewing?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Hurricanes won 10 games for only the second time in 20 years.
Their explosive offense led the nation in scoring (43.9 points) and produced the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Still, 2024 still felt like a disappointment.
Miami’s defense was sabotage in action finishing 69th in scoring (25.3 points) and allowing 61 plays of 20-plus yards (94th nationally).
Their defensive performance was why Miami missed the College Football Playoff with a 42-38 loss at Syracuse in the final weekend of the regular season to knock them out of the conference championship.
Often praised for his recruiting, coach Mario Cristobal elevated Miami, a team who signed top 10 recruiting classes in 2023 and 2024. The Hurricanes don’t play defense, which falls on coaching.
Cristobal hired Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, who led a top 10 scoring defense (16.9 points) that finished 12th in yards per play allowed (4.76) in 2024. Miami gave up 30+ points in six of its 13 games last season. Meanwhile, Iowa was the only team that scored 30 points on Minnesota last year.
Miami made a concerted effort to retool its secondary by bringing in six transfers, headlined by Xavier Lucas from Wisconsin and, most recently, Houston/Auburn transfer Keionte Scott.
Miami has holes to fill on offense, too. In addition to Cam Ward, the Hurricanes lost their top four wideouts (Xavier Restrepo, Jacolby George, Isaiah Horton and Sam Brown) and tight end Elijah Arroyo.
Most notably, there was the high-profile addition of Carson Beck, Georgia’s top quarterback. Praise be the transfer portal!
Miami is very fortunate to have replaced Ward immediately and keep their momentum on offense.
In addition, Miami landed several receiver transfers: CJ Daniels (LSU/Liberty), Keelan Marion (BYU) and Tony Johnson (Cincinnati).
Beck didn’t throw in the spring while recovering from an elbow injury he suffered in the SEC Championship Game.
He’ll have to develop chemistry with a new set of receivers and acclimate to a new offense quickly — and get more help from the revamped defense than Ward did — for Miami to win the ACC for the first time and earn a Playoff spot.
The Canes NIL presence has always been well known. LifeWallet CEO John Ruiz made the Hurricanes an immediate player in the name, image, and likeness space by doling out millions to bring talent to South Florida.
While his involvement with the program has since faded given some recent financial issues, the school’s attitude towards utilizing NIL to build its roster hasn’t budged.
Miami’s NIL estimated spin for 2025 it’s between $20-$25 million.
Miami’s investment paid off on the recruiting trail where they were able to convince top prospects to spurn notable programs in order to sign with The U.
The Canes are just below Texas and Georgia for the most estimated NIL spend in the country.
Will it translate into wins on Saturday, an ACC championship and a college football playoff slot?
Top Portal Classes
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The college football spring transfer portal window closed April 25th. Let’s take a look at the top transfer portal recruiting classes going into the summer.
#1 LSU: The Tigers are bringing in 18 players. They have 12 four-stars and 5 three-star players.
Some of the standout players are: S Tamarcus Cooley (NC State), DL Bernard Gooden (USF), S A.J. Haulcy (Houston), Edge Patrick Payton (Florida State), TE Donovan Green (Texas A&M), DL Sydir Mitchell (Texas), CB Mansoor Delane (Virginia Tech), Jack Pyburn (Florida), IOL Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech), WR Destyn Hill (Florida State), WR Nic Anderson (Oklahoma), WR Barion Brown (Kentucky), IOL Josh Thompson (Northwestern) and Edge Jimari Butler (Nebraska).
I expect LSU to be a top 10 team in the preseason poll.
#3 Miami: The Hurricanes have 19 commits. Nine of them are four-stars and 9 are three-stars.
The biggest star is QB Carson Beck (Georgia). He’s hoping to follow in Cam Ward’s footsteps because he transferred in from Washington State the year before. He was the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Some of the other players are: CB Keionte Scott (Houston), S Jakobe Thomas (Tennessee), LB Mohamed Toure (Rutgers), LB Kamal Bonner (NC State), WR Keelan Marion (BYU), WR Tony Johnson (Cincinnati), TE Alex Bauman (Tulane), IOL James Brockermeyer (TCU), CB Xavier Lucas (Wisconsin), CB Charles Brantley (Michigan State), TE Jack Nickel (UAB), S Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State), WR CJ Daniels (LSU) and Ethan O’Connor.
The defense was the Achilles’ heel last season so they added plenty of talent on that side of the ball. I think they will start the season just outside the top 10.
#4 Ole Miss: The Rebels are adding 29 transfer players, making them one of the deepest classes. They have 10 four-stars and 19 three-stars.
They include: QB Maealiuaki Smith (Oklahoma State), OT Terez Davis (Maryland), CB Tavoy Feagin (Clemson), WR Harrison Wallace III (Penn State), WR Traylon Ray (West Virginia), OT Percy Lewis (Auburn), S Kapena Gushiken (Washington State), WR Deuce Alexander (Wake Forest) and IOL Delano Townsend (UAB).
They lost quarterback Jaxson Dart who was a first round pick in the NFL draft. They have enough talent to start the season in the top 20.
#6 Florida State: FSU showed us how badly building a team from the transfer portal can go last year.
They imploded and went 2-10 after being ranked in the top 10 in the preseason. Let’s see if things will be better in 2025. Out of their 23 commits they have 8 four-stars and 15 three-stars.
Some of them are: RB Gavin Sawchuk (Oklahoma), OT Josh Raymond (Vanderbilt), CB Jeremiah Wilson (Houston), S Jarvis Boatwright Jr. (USC), WR Squirrel White (Tennessee), DL Jayson Jenkins (Tennessee) and OT Micah Pettus (Ole Miss).
We will see if the Seminoles can bounce back.
#8 Auburn: The Tigers were 5-7 last season and only won two conference games. They have 19 commits with 6 four-stars and 12 three-stars.
This includes: LB Caleb Wheatland (Maryland), S Taye Seymore (Georgia Tech), TE Preston Howard (Maryland), OT Mason Murphy (USC), CB Raion Strader (Miami OH), WR Eric Singleton Jr. (Georgia Tech), OT Xavier Chaplin (Virginia Tech) and QB Jackson Arnold (Oklahoma).
I think they can start the season as a Top 25 team.
The Top 2 Teams
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Finally, the coast is clear to make grand proclamations about the upcoming SEC football season. The transfer portal has closed (at least for departures), and there are no season-changing athletes on the market.
So, as we unwind this offseason and take a look around, here are two grand proclamations:
- The SEC’s two best teams are clearly Texas and Georgia, and in that order.
- After that, it’s wide open.
What did we expect? The two best teams are the two that made the conference championship game and were the last two SEC teams in the College Football Playoff.
It’s just the obvious conclusion, especially after a spring that saw both programs only solidify their spots, especially through the portal.
When predicting third place and onward, a glut of candidates exists and none is a clear favorite? Inevitably, some team will emerge to challenge or perhaps leapfrog Texas and Georgia, maybe there’s more than one team who does it.
At this stage, picking teams requires a confidence level that today’s facts don’t match. There are plenty of candidates with plenty of flaws among them. There will be carnage in any SEC schedule; each team saw plenty of injuries last year, and this year’s slate is essentially the same, just with the home sites flipped.
Texas and Georgia meet on Nov. 15 in Athens. They met in October last year and managed a rematch in Atlanta. That they could do so again was buttressed by their offseasons.
Texas: In perhaps the smoothest quarterback transition ever, Arch Manning steps in after two years of occasional starts for Quinn Ewers, who played well for Texas but wasn’t so irreplaceable that the NFL deigned to pick him in the first six rounds of the NFL draft.
The Longhorns then armed Manning this spring with help from the Bay Area: receiver Emmet Mosley V (Stanford) and tight end Cal Endries (Cal). These additions will pair with Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore returning this season, both finishing in the top five in receiving yards on last year’s team .
On defense, Texas signed five defensive linemen between the two portal periods. Right now, they have one of the best front sevens in college football, if not the best.
Between that, the projected passing game and the program’s status as the only team to make the last two CFPs.
Not to mention their surprisingly manageable schedule this year, it’s easy to pick the Longhorns as national preseason No. 1.
Georgia: Kirby Smart has never been heavy on the portal.
He prefers to use it strategically. This year’s portal haul is consistent to previous years, but this year, especially if Georgia ends up returning to the national championship game, transfers will be the reason they got there.
The post-winter window was successful enough. Georgia needed receivers and got them: Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) out wide and Zachariah Branch (USC) in the slot, plus Zachariah’s brother Zion Branch and two others for depth at safety.
The post-spring window may have been just as big.
Elo Modozie (Army) could start right away, and tailback Josh McCray (Illinois) gives the Bulldogs an experienced tailback, which was badly needed after Trevor Etienne went pro.
These weren’t eye-popping, multi-million-dollar deals, but they shored up weak spots.
Also, Georgia didn’t lose any key players in the post-spring window AND didn’t suffer any long-term injuries during spring practice.
Georgia’s roster is fortified for another national championship run, with things depending on two spots: starting quarterback Gunner Stockton and a young offensive line. The theme of spring practice was that the team feels good about Stockton.
There’s no guarantee Texas or Georgia win the conference title or even make the Playoff, but would you bet against it?
As things stand now, they are clearly the two best teams in the SEC. And the teams who emerge behind or through them will be fascinating to watch.
Well over half the league has an argument to make a push into the top tier, and that should make for a compelling season.
The Future QB
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Jared Curtis, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class, is officially back on board with the University of Georgia.
After decommitting from the Bulldogs last year, the five-star standout from Nashville Christian School made his return to the Dawgs during a commitment ceremony on May 5th that was anything but low-key.
Curtis walked into the gym early wearing a sleek all-black tracksuit, with his parents dressed in long black coats. The big moment came when he shared the news and rolled a commitment video on the big screen above the gym floor. Oregon made a serious push, but Georgia came out on top.
So why did Curtis choose to recommit to the Bulldogs? It came down to coaching. “Just the stability in the coaching staff and knowing Coach Smart and Coach Mike Bobo are there,” he said. “Those are my two biggest commitments at UGA.” Curtis said that consistency meant more to him than anything else, including NIL money.
With his commitment, Georgia’s 2026 recruiting class got a big boost, going from No. 25 to No. 17 in the national rankings. He’s the first five-star in the class for the Dawgs, but he might not be the last.
Georgia’s hoping to pair Curtis with Jackson Cantwell, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound offensive tackle and the No. 1 overall recruit in the class. Cantwell is a large human being.
If Georgia can land Cantwell too, they’d have the top quarterback and the top lineman in the country. That combination could put UGA on track to have the best recruiting class in the nation, just like when they signed Matthew Stafford back in 2006.
Speaking of Stafford, that’s the name that keeps coming up when people talk about Curtis. The comparisons make sense. Both are big, strong-armed quarterbacks who weren’t afraid to take chances.
Curtis is listed at 6-3 and 225 pounds and is known for throwing darts all over the field. He’s not necessarily a run first guy, but he moves well, throws on the run, and has serious arm talent. It feels cliché to say this, but I don’t think there is a throw he can’t make.
Also, like Stafford, Curtis has that “gunslinger” mentality. I’ve watched a bunch of his highlight reels and he is definitely not afraid to take risks and try to make something happen, even if it means forcing a throw now and then.
He had a game this past fall with a perfect stat line. In Nashville Christian’s 53-point win over rival Clarksville Academy, he went 16 for 16 with 259 passing yards and 5 total touchdowns.
If you have some time to kill, do yourself a favor and type his name into the search bar on YouTube. You can thank me later.
This cat is the kind of quarterback who can take over a game, and he’s the kind of player Georgia fans should be excited about.
In today’s college football world, five-star quarterbacks usually come with big-dollar deals. According to reports, Curtis will be part of a strong NIL package at Georgia that will include revenue sharing, endorsement deals, and collective support, but Curtis is adamant that money wasn’t the driving factor. His agent said NIL probably made up only 10-15% of the decision.
“If Jared was chasing the best compensation package, this may have been over a long time ago,” said Peter Webb, his agent.
In fact, neither Georgia nor Oregon had the highest offer. Curtis chose Georgia because of relationships, not cash.
For head coach Kirby Smart and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, this is a massive win. They brought Curtis back into the fold and now have him leading the charge for more elite talent.
With momentum building and top recruits still on the board, the Bulldogs could be in for a huge 2026 class. It looks like Georgia just got its quarterback of the future.
On To Duval
By: Cameron Miller
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 NFL Draft has come to an end, so let’s take a look at how the Jacksonville Jaguars come out of the Draft with an NFL.com grade of A-.
The Jaguars and new GM James Gladstone began the draft with a bang right out of the gate, by trading up from Round 1 Pick 5, to get Round 1 Pick 2.
The Jaguars traded the Cleveland Browns, Pick No 5 in 2025, 2025 Pick No. 36, 2025 Pick No. 126, and a 2026 1st Round Pick, and in exchange they got back 2025 Pick No. 2 (Travis Hunter), 2025 Pick No. 104 (Bhayshul Tuten), and 2025 Pick No. 200 (Rayuan Lane III).
As a Die-Hard Jaguars fan I am beyond pleased with the outcome of this year’s draft.
Starting out with the most notable selection is Round 1 Pick 2 Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter.
Hunter was the No. 1 Recruit in the Nation out of High School. In his 2024 season he was able to obtain a mountain of Awards and Accolades such as the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, winning the Biletnikoff Award (Best WR) and Chuck Bednarik Award (Top Defender), the Lott IMPACT Trophy (Top Defensive Player who exhibits Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity), being named Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, winning the Paul Hornung (Most Versatile Player), all while also being named Big 12 Player of the Year, 1st-Team All-Big 12 WR, 1st-Team All-Big 12 CB, 1st-Team Associated Press All-American All-Purpose & CB, 2nd-Team Associated Press All-American WR.
Hunter tallied up a ridiculous stat line for the 2024 season. On Offense he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards, and 16 total touchdowns. On Defense he had 35 Tackles, 1 FF, 4 INTs, 11 PBUs, only allowed 23 Catches and 1 TD on 41 Targets.
Although he has shown if he had chosen one position in the draft he probably would have been WR1 or CB1 the Jaguars have recently announced that Hunter will start out on the offensive side of the ball and gradually work into defense.
Next is Round 3 Pick 88 Caleb Ransaw, a DB from Tulane who could potentially become a starter for the Jaguars at slot corner at some point this season. Ransaw finished his 2024 season with 34 Tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 Sack, 3 PBUs, which was enough for him to be named 2024 3rd-Team All-American Athletic Conference
With their third selection they drafted the West Virginia OT Wyatt Milum at Round 3 Pick 89. Milum was named 2024 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. He also was 1st-Team All-Big 12, and 2nd-Team Associated Press All-American. Fun fact about Wyatt is he was Originally committed to pitch as a lefty for the University of Marshall Baseball Team, before he switched and became a 4-year starter for West Virginia’s Football Team
Their next selection came in Round 4 where they drafted Virginia Tech HB Bhayshul Tuten with Pick 104. Tuten could definitely see some work early on in the season especially on special teams and maybe even see him come in on some early down formations.
In 2024 he rushed for 1,159 yards on 183 carries and punched in 15 touchdowns. That was good enough for him to make 2nd-Team All-ACC for the second year in a row.
Next pick was Round 4 Pick 107 where they selected Jack Kiser, the linebacker from Notre Dame. Throughout his time at Notre Dame, he played in 70 total games which was enough for him to set the school record for most games played.
In 2024 Kiser had 90 Tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 Sacks, 1 PBU, and 2 FFs. He was named the Notre Dame Man of the Year and was a Finalist for the William V. Campbell and Wuerffel Trophies.
In Round 6 they got one of the biggest steals of the draft, with pick 194 they drafted Auburn linebacker Jalen Mcleod.
In 2024 he had 13.5 TFLs, 8 Sacks, 2 FFs, 57 Tackles, and 1 PBU. Even though he was a late round pick, with the physicality and speed of Mcleod at the strongside linebacker position I really believe the Jags got a player who could potentially come in and have an immediate impact, especially with the consistent injury history of starter Ventrell Miller.
The Jags used their Round 6 Pick they acquired in the Browns trade to get Navy Safety Rayuan Lane III at No. 200.
In 2024 he had 3 FFs, 70 Tackles, 2 INTs (1 Returned for a TD), and 4 PBUs, and made 1st-Team All-American Athletic Conference
In Round 7 they also had 2 picks, pick 221, which they used to get USC OL Jonah Monheim.
Monheim was a very versatile Offensive Lineman throughout his tenure in college, he played 18 games at RT, 3 games at RG, 12 at LT, and 12 at C. His senior year he earned 3rd-Team All-Big Ten Honors.
Even though he is now primarily a center, it seems as if Monheim could potentially be used as a plug-n-play kind of guy on the Offensive Line.
They also had pick 236, which landed them Syracuse HB LeQuint Allen Jr.
In his final year at Syracuse, he rushed for 1,021 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Allen Jr also led all of FBS HBs with 64 Receptions (521 yards & 4 TDs). A season like that allowed him to be an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2024.
After the draft was finally completely finished Jacksonville made 20 more calls and signed a bulk of Undrafted Free Agents such as Elon WR Chandler Brayboy, Boise State WR Cam Camper, Indiana DL James Carpenter, Wake Forest LB Branson Combs, North Carolina TE John Copenhaver, Oklahoma DL Ethan Downs, Colorado DL B.J. Green II, Memphis QB Seth Henigan, Oregon TE Patrick Herbert, Arkansas RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, North Carolina WR J.J. Jones, North Dakota State DL Eli Mostaert, Oregon DB Jabbar Muhammad, Duke WR Eli Pancol, Arkansas DL Keivie Rose, Colorado S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, Arkansas DB Doneiko Slaughter, Minnesota DL Danny Striggow, North Carolina State DB Aydan White, and Penn State OL Sal Wormley.
After all that I think it’s safe to say Jacksonville touched on all the key points that were essential to them in this year’s draft.
I believe out of all the other teams in the NFL, they definitely had one of the best overall drafts this year and I can’t wait to see them put all of these new options to work this off-season.
Drafted To The Benz
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2025 NFL Draft is over. We are going to take a look at the Atlanta Falcons draft and see how they did.
Atlanta Falcons: Draft picks
Round 1 (No. 15) Edge Jalon Walker, Georgia
Round 1 (No. 26) Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Round 3 (No. 96) S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Round 4 (No. 118) S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Round 7 (No. 218) OT Jack Nelson
I like the fact that Atlanta has addressed the need for pass rushers. That has been an issue for several years. I thought last season that should have been addressed first in the draft.
Instead, they picked QB Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. If they did not sign Kirk Cousins in free agency that would have been a good pick.
“It’s like, ‘Man, how do we get two of these studs,’” general manager Terry Fontenot.
“’Let’s figure out a way to do that and let’s really impact this thing.’”
They did trade up to get the 26th pick to select Pearce. They gave up a 2026 first-rounder for that so they have to hope he lives up to his potential. As a Falcons fan I can’t help but think of recent draft picks that did not pan out.
Defensive end Takk McKinley was picked No. 26 by Atlanta in the 2017 draft. They declined his fifth-year option on his contract and he was waived during the 2020 season.
Linebacker Vic Beasley was selected No. 8 in the 2015 draft. He had a breakout second season in 2016, with 15.5 sacks. That was his only season with double-digit sacks in the five years he played for the Falcons.
Watts is a ball hawking safety and he addressed a huge need in the secondary. They were docked a 2025 fifth-round pick for violating the league’s anti-tampering policy related to signing free agents Kirk Cousins, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Charlie Woerner.
Bowman should develop into a starter at strong safety. He might play nickel in 2025, if needed.
Nelson will play behind Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary. He can play either right or left tackle.
“It doesn’t always line up to where the need matches the board in terms of the players that are there,” Fontenot said. “But it really worked out for us and we truly were able to bring in impact players in all areas.”
The biggest needs to address after the draft are center, wide receiver and corner back.
Atlanta signed 11 undrafted rookie free agents after the draft. They are Miami DT Simeon Barrow, Kansas CB Cobee Bryant, Michigan State RB Nathan Carter, Oregon State guard Joshua Gray, North Dakota State LB Nick Kubitz, Oregon CB Dontae Manning, South Carolina TE Joshua Simon, San Jose State WR Nick Nash, Vanderbilt WR Quincy Skinner, Georgia Tech OL Jordan Williams and Iowa State S Malik Verdon.
“We kind of talk about this draft and the fact that we do believe it’s a deep draft,” Fontenot said. “I keep saying this, but it’s true: there is an eighth round this year. We’re going to be aggressive there and get some good players when the seventh-round ends.”
Mel Kiper graded the Falcons draft a C-. I give them a B because they addressed the need for pass rushers.
Jason Bishop Show April 30 2025
