Former Falcons GM Terry Fontenot didn’t leave the cupboard bare in terms of roster talent. In fact, his 2025 draft class was a masterpiece, producing four immediate contributors in Jalon Walker, Billy Bowman, James Pearce Jr., and Xavier Watts — with Pearce and Watts already trending toward becoming All-Pro caliber players.
The Falcons have enough talent to be competitive right away, but there’s a lot of work to be done to be considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Some of that can be addressed through free agency and trades, but sustainable winners are ultimately built through the draft.
“Draft, develop, and retain,” new Falcons GM Ian Cunningham said Tuesday in his introductory press conference.
Cunningham’s immediate challenge is a lack of draft capital. The Falcons don’t own a first-round pick and have just five total selections, only three of which fall in the first five rounds. He acknowledged that reality while referencing his time in Chicago, where the Bears also had only five picks in his first draft and still managed to come away with 11 players.
When Ryan Poles and Cunningham took over the Bears, they were also without first- and fourth-round picks due to a prior trade for Justin Fields. That’s a familiar scenario for Cunningham, though Atlanta’s aggressive move netted a much more impactful player in James Pearce Jr., unlike Fields in Chicago.
Chicago rebuilt its draft capital through trades, most notably dealing Khalil Mack to the Chargers for a second-rounder. That could be a path Cunningham explores once he fully evaluates the roster. Several Falcons veterans would pique interest across the league, and one name to watch is All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III.
Bates has been worth every penny since signing with the Falcons three years ago, earning two All-Pro selections He’s not someone Atlanta should be eager to trade, but he’s nearing 30, plays a non-premium position, and in this league it is better to be a year early than a year late.
Even if Atlanta doesn’t move a major piece, Cunningham should have opportunities to trade back and add picks. Back in 2022, the Bears turned just three Day 3 selections into eight picks That type of maneuvering may be Atlanta’s best path to replenishing its draft pool.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
