Context:

The Atlanta Falcons made a bold move in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting two defensive ends in the first round, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., to address their long-standing pass-rushing needs. This aggressive strategy, which included trading away a future first-round pick, received mixed reviews, with ESPN's Mel Kiper offering a C grade due to the high cost. However, Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby praised the Falcons for their decisive action and belief in the talent of their selections. Crosby, an accomplished pass rusher himself, expressed confidence in Walker and Pearce's potential to become formidable defensive assets. Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer noted that the Falcons viewed the trade as acquiring a future asset a year early, mitigating concerns about long-term risk.

Dive Deeper:

• The Atlanta Falcons, seeking to strengthen their defense, used their 2025 NFL Draft first-round picks on Jalon Walker from Georgia and James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee, marking their first significant investment in edge rushers since 2015.

• Mixed reactions followed their draft strategy, with ESPN's Mel Kiper giving a C grade due to the high price of trading away a future first-round pick to secure Pearce, highlighting concerns about the long-term implications.

• Maxx Crosby, a notable pass rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders, commended the Falcons' approach on the Full Send Podcast, emphasizing the team's commitment to improving their pass rush and the potential of their draft picks.

• Crosby described Walker and Pearce as 'young ballers' with the capability to develop into key defensive players, indicating his belief in their athleticism and potential impact on the field.

• Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated explained that the Falcons' decision to trade up was seen as obtaining a future first-round pick a year in advance, effectively reducing the perceived long-term risk of the decision.

• The Falcons' proactive draft choices reflect a strategic shift aimed at addressing a critical need in their roster, despite varying opinions on the wisdom of their aggressive tactics.

• Shane Shoemaker, an editorial writer with a passion for sports, underscores the significance of the Falcons' draft decisions within the broader context of their ongoing efforts to rebuild and compete more effectively in the NFL.

• The 2025 NFL Draft may have ended with most of the conversation still centered on Shedeur Sanders. However, the Atlanta Falcons’ aggressive first-round strategy—making two selections—quickly became the other headline.

• The Falcons had been desperate for a pass rush for years. They hadn’t used a first-round pick on defense in four years, and hadn’t seriously addressed the edge position since selecting Vic Beasley in 2015.

• This year, Atlanta doubled down. The Falcons used the No. 15 overall pick on Georgia’s Jalon Walker and followed that by trading up to No. 26 to draft Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr.

• Depending on the outlet, reviews on the Falcons’ strategy have been mixed. ESPN’s Mel Kiper gave the team a C grade, noting that trading away next year’s first-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams was too steep a price.

• However, the Falcons earned strong praise from a fellow edge rusher: Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby.

• “Atlanta Falcons... they need pass rush. They need to get after the quarterback,” Crosby said on the Full Send Podcast when asked what excited him about this year’s draft.

• “‘We’re going all in. We’re drafting two d-ends in the first round. We don’t give a f---. It’s the two best athletes we think in our opinion.’ They got two young ballers who are going to go in there and develop and hopefully be two bookends for years to come. That’s what they envision in those guys. And both of them, I’ve watched their film—dogs!”

• That’s high praise from a fellow pass rusher who has racked up 59.5 sacks so far in his career.

• As for the Falcons’ decision to give up their 2026 first-rounder, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted in his Monday column that the team wasn’t too concerned about the long-term risk.

• “Conceptually, the idea was that if they went up for Pearce, they’d simply be getting next year’s first-rounder a year early, at the cost of knocking their pick on Day 2 down,” Breer wrote.

• MORE ATLANTA FALCONS:

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  • Falcons OC Zac Robinson's latest comments suggest $10 million TE is off the trade block
  • USA Today reporter says Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich won't escape son's prank call to Shedeur Sanders