Falcons predicted to dump $10 million veteran with 66 sacks before playing a snap in Atlanta

The Atlanta Falcons had one clear goal heading into the NFL Draft and throughout the offseason: to bolster the defensive line after recording minimal sacks for most of last season. This is why the Falcons targeted Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the draft.

“Raheem Morris says he was tired of getting grilled for the lack of a pass rush for the Falcons, and they were intentional about fixing that this offseason,” Will McFadden wrote. "That's got to change, and the only way to change that is to change that."

Atlanta will field a young defensive roster in 2025, but with Jessie Bates serving as a mentor, the team is expected to be ready to hit the field with confidence.

“Bates' mentorship is crucial for the Falcons, who will likely field a very young defense in 2025. Walker and fellow pass rusher James Pearce Jr. were both first-round picks in April and will likely see a lot of playing time as rookies. The Falcons also drafted Watts and Billy Bowman Jr., a fourth-round pick who played safety in college and will play nickel corner in Atlanta,” ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote.

If Walker and Pearce Jr. perform well during training camp, Leonard Floyd—whom the team signed in free agency—could very well be traded to another franchise.

“They also have David Onyemata and Morgan Fox, which again, adds more unnecessary depth. Floyd should be one of the preferred choices, but he’s the only one who has any real value they could capitalize on when they realize they overcompensated on the defensive line. If Atlanta was smart, they’d make sure they can capitalize on Floyd’s value as preseason approaches. They should monitor closely how the Bengals and Lions are handling their situations as well as the Steelers. They have more than enough EDGE rushers to go around and they could turn from a waste of money into more draft capital or more help on this roster,” FanSided’s Wnnston Wilcox wrote.

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This move could help the Falcons financially depending on what they get in return. With a great mix of new talent and veterans, it will be interesting to see what happens with Floyd as the season approaches.