After a defense-oriented offseason, the Atlanta Falcons began the 2025 NFL season with two rookies in their secondary. Third-round pick Xavier Watts started at safety alongside Jessie Bates III, while fourth-round selection Billy Bowman Jr. took on the slot cornerback role. Both players made significant contributions early in the season.
Watts recorded five interceptions, tying for second-most in the league, and ranked third on the team in tackles. He was named to both the Pro Football Writers of America All-NFC and All-Rookie teams and is a finalist for the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Bowman played six games before an Achilles injury ended his season. During that time, he had two pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble.
Following Bowman’s injury, Dee Alford resumed his role as starting nickel cornerback with improved performance over last year. Alford made several key plays throughout the season. A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes were primarily responsible for outside cornerback duties; Terrell held opposing receivers to an average separation of two yards—fourth-best among outside corners—while Hughes’ late-season injury led to some rotation at his position.
Jessie Bates III continued as team captain and was considered one of Atlanta’s most important players last season. Bates delivered critical performances during major games: his first interception came against Drake Maye and the Patriots; his second against Daniel Jones and the Colts; and his third—a pick-six—was against Matthew Stafford and the Rams on “Monday Night Football.”
Atlanta’s defensive backs intercepted 14 passes during 2025, ranking fifth among all secondary groups in the league. The Falcons also had three players—Watts, Alford, and Bates—with at least three interceptions each, tying them for second-most such players on a single team this season.
Looking ahead to 2026, several members of Atlanta’s secondary remain under contract: Jessie Bates III (S), Billy Bowman Jr. (CB), Cobee Bryant (CB), Mike Ford (CB), C.J. Henderson (CB), DeMarrco Hellams (S), Mike Hughes (CB), Clark Phillips III (CB), Jammie Robinson (S), A.J. Terrell (CB), and Xavier Watts (S). Dee Alford and Natrone Brooks are set to become free agents.
A key question facing Atlanta is whether they will attempt to retain Alford in free agency after he posted a team-best 13 pass breakups along with three interceptions during 2025.
Alford joined Atlanta as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and returned last year on a one-year deal worth over $1 million for the first time in his career. His play exceeded expectations given that contract value.
The Falcons drafted Bowman with hopes he would become their long-term slot cornerback—a plan still intact despite Bowman’s shortened rookie campaign—which could make retaining Alford less urgent if he is not projected as a starter going forward.
However, depth remains vital for NFL defenses due to matchup challenges faced by secondaries each week. The organization may consider keeping Alford as an experienced reserve who has demonstrated reliability when called upon.
The Atlanta Falcons are based in Atlanta, Georgia according to their official website. They compete in the National Football League’s NFC South Division and have appeared twice in Super Bowls, once each in 1998 and 2016 since being founded as an expansion franchise in 1965. Freddie the Falcon serves as their mascot as noted by team sources.
