The 2025 draft class tied the fewest picks in franchise history, with just five rookies, and they haven’t even been given their numbers yet, but it’s overwhelmingly clear that it’s Terry Fontenot’s best work as Falcons general manager.

Falcons 2021 draft class

Round 1: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida (No. 4)

Round 2: S Richie Grant, UCF (No. 40)

Round 3: OL Jalen Mayfield, Michigan (No. 68)

Round 4: CB Darren Hall, SDSU (pick 108)

Round 4: C Drew Dalman, Stanford (pick 114)

Round 5: DL Ta’Quon Graham, Texas (pick 148)

Round 5: DE Ade Ogundeji, Notre Dame (pick 182)

Round 5: CB Avery Williams, Boise St. (pick 183)

Round 6: WR Frank Darby, ASU (pick 187)

Fontenot’s first draft class has all but dissipated. Ta’Quon Graham re-signed this past offseason, but I don’t really know if you call a fringe rotational defensive lineman a ‘hit.’ While Drew Dalman, the class’s one pick that over-performed, signed with the Bears this offseason. Who knows what the future holds for Kyle Pitts.

Falcons 2022 draft class

Round 1: WR Drake London, USC (pick 8)

Round 2: EDGE Arnold Ebiketie, PSU (pick 38)

Round 2: LB Troy Andersen, Montana St. (pick 58)

Round 3: QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (pick 74)

Round 3: OLB DeAngelo Malone, WKU (pick 82)

Round 5: RB Tyler Allgeier, BYU (pick 151)

Round 6: OL Justin Shaffer, Georgia (pick 190)

Round 6: TE John FitzPatrick, Georgia (pick 213)

Tyler Allgeier and Drake London have lived up to their respective draft statuses, but that’s it. The jury is still out on Troy Andersen, while Arnold Ebiketie may have reached his ceiling as a six-sack pass rusher in this league. Is that a successful draft? Perhaps.

Falcons 2023 draft class

Round 1: RB Bijan Robinson, Texas (pick 8)

Round 2: OL Matt Bergeron, Syracuse (pick 38)

Round 3: DE Zach Harrison, OSU (pick 75)

Round 4: CB Clark Phillips III, Utah (pick 113)

Round 7: S DeMarcco Hellams, Alabama (pick 224)

Round 7: OL Jovaughn Gwyn, South Carolina (pick 225)

Bijan Robinson is already a top five running back in football, but the rest is up in the air. I think a lot of Falcons fans think Matthew Bergeron is something that he’s not. That doesn’t mean he can’t develop into a high-level starter; however, he’s not there yet. Zach Harrison has not had the opportunities needed to show his abilities, but he’ll have it in 2025. Clark Phillips III is a fine depth piece, along with DeMarcco Hellams.

Falcons 2024 draft class

Round 1: QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington (pick 8)

Round 2: DL Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson (pick 3)

Round 3: EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington (pick 74)

Round 4: DL Brandon Dorlus, Oregon (pick 109)

Round 5: LB JD Bertrand, Notre Dame (pick 143)

Round 6: RB Jase McClellan, Alabama (pick 186)

Round 6: WR Casey Washington (pick 187)

Round 6: DL Zion Logue, Georgia (pick 197)

You can never jump to definitive conclusions after just one season. Michael Penix flashed, and the hope is that he develops into the Falcons’ franchise quarterback, but nobody can say anything one way or another about literally any of the other members of the 2024 draft class.

Falcons 2025 draft class

Round 1: EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia (pick 15)

Round 1: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee (pick 26)

Round 3: Safety Xavier Watts, Notre Dame (pick 96)

Round 4: DB Billy Bowman, Oklahoma (pick 118)

Round 7: OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin (pick 218)

We don’t know what the 2024 class can become, and if Penix turns into the franchise signal caller, Falcons fans who believe that is Fontenot’s best class would have a great argument. However, I think as far as draft capital goes and filling immediate needs, the 2025 class is his best work yet.

The Falcons got four potential Day 1 starters with their first four picks, including two outside of the first round, which Fontenot has never done in his tenure as Atlanta’s general manager. Obviously, it’s premature to declare the 2025 class his best work, but I’m a big believer in Walker, Pearce, and Watts.

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