The Falcons enter 2025 with a defense ranked 29th and heavy reliance on two rookie edge rushers plus several young secondary pieces. The unit finished 29th in DVOA last season and posted the second-worst pressure rate, creating a steep development curve. Immediate improvement hinges on rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. delivering instant impact while Jeff Ulbrich maximizes a young roster that includes Jessie Bates and A.J. Terrell plus four recent draft picks. Historical data shows bottom-five defenses often rebound—44% jump into the top 12 and 64% finish 22nd or better the following year. A realistic turnaround would pair a mid-tier defense with a strong Michael Penix Jr.-led offense.
The Ringer's Sheil Kapadia ranked all 32 NFL defenses heading into the 2025 season, and there's no love lost for the Atlanta Falcons' ragtag bunch of young talent. Kapadia slotted the upstart Falcons defense 29th, citing how relying on two rookie pass-rushers and a handful of promising secondary pieces may not be enough to drag this unit out of the basement it has occupied for the better part of the last decade.
Kapadia noted that this defense struggled last season, 29th in DVOA and second-worst in pressure rate, and they're counting on rookies Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. to provide an instant upgrade. Could it happen? Sure, but it's a big ask. Ulbrich has to squeeze every ounce of juice out of a young roster, leaning heavily on Jessie Bates, A.J. Terrell, and four rookies drafted in the top four rounds of this year's draft.
That's the Falcons' window. History says a turnaround is far from impossible. Even Atlanta proved it in 2023, jumping from 30th in EPA/play allowed to 11th in just one offseason behind the hire of now-Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. If this defense can even claw its way into the 18-22 range, pairing it with what could be a top-10 Michael Penix Jr.-led offense, the Falcons would be firmly
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