The Falcons made their bet, and now the spotlight lands squarely on Xavier Watts.
Atlanta sent Jessie Bates III to Jacksonville in a pre-deadline stunner, dealing the three-time All-Pro to the 6-2 Jaguars for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. With that move, the back end of the defense shifts from a proven veteran pairing to Watts carrying more of the load as the team leans into youth and extra draft capital.
That’s a big ask, especially with Watts still trying to shake off a rough start to his second season. After finishing fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting last year, he came on strong with nearly 100 tackles, five interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
This season, though, the production has dipped. He has just one interception in nine games and only two pass breakups.
The tackling has still been there, but the splash plays have mostly disappeared. Pro Football Focus has him at a 57.1 defensive grade, which ranks 65th out of 95 qualified safeties. Last season, he posted a 72.1 grade and finished 17th at the position.
Even so, Atlanta clearly believes the ceiling is still high. The Falcons were comfortable moving on from Bates because they think Watts can get back to the version of himself they saw a year ago. Now that Bates is gone, that belief has to turn into results.
Part of the appeal is the contract situation. Watts has two more seasons, plus the rest of 2026, left on his rookie deal, making him far more affordable over the long haul. Paying top dollar for two safeties at a non-premium position was never going to be easy to justify, and the tandem wasn’t working the way Atlanta wanted anyway.
Watts’ game still starts with his brain. He’s known as one of the better mental processors at safety, and his pre-snap awareness shows up when he’s reading the field. But this year he has looked slower and at times out of place in zone coverage, which has fed the slump.
The takeaway potential is still there, too. Bates made a living off creating turnovers, and Atlanta is counting on Watts to pick up more of that responsibility. He has already forced two fumbles this season, and if the interceptions start coming again, he can get back to being one of the league’s better ball hawks.
He finished 2025 with a strong push down the stretch. The Falcons are hoping that version shows up again now that the secondary belongs to him.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Made Their Post-Bates Defensive Priorities Very Clear
The Falcons wasted little time reinforcing the defense after the Bates move, locking in two more pieces before the market could shift further. Atlanta agreed to a three-year extension with EDGE Cameron Thomas that can reach $33 million, keeping him under contract through the 2029 season, and also finalized a two-year deal with cornerback CJ Henderson that can climb to $20 million with $11 million guaranteed.
Both moves were confirmed by multiple NFL insiders and agents, a sign the Falcons are intent on stabilizing the back end and the pass rush at the same time. For a team trying to sort out its defensive identity, the message is clear: Atlanta is not waiting around to see which of its own pieces might be available later. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Signaled Bigger Offensive Line Changes Are Coming
The Falcons made a notable move just before the NFL trade deadline, sending center Ryan Neuzil to the Ravens for guard Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick. It was more than a simple swap of linemen. It was a clear sign that Atlanta is not treating its offensive line as a finished product, even with the season already underway.
Bill Callahan plans to open with Corey Levin at center, but the bigger question is how much else changes around him. Matthew Bergeron and Jake Matthews could be part of a reshuffled group, and the Falcons are already expected to keep looking for help in free agency and the 2027 NFL Draft. For a team trying to stabilize up front, this trade looks less like the end of the conversation than the start of it. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Huge Chiefs Question Before Week 10
The Falcons Week 10 trip to Kansas City just picked up a little more uncertainty, and it centers on a backfield issue that could alter how the Chiefs approach Sunday. Kenneth Walker III reported groin tightness and sat out Fridays practice, leaving Andy Reid and his staff to sort through one more late-week question before making a final call on his status.
For Atlanta, the timing matters because Kansas Citys offense can look very different depending on who is available in the run game. Reid said the team will evaluate Walker before deciding whether he can go, and if he cannot, rookie Emmett Johnson is in line to step in. It is the kind of development the Falcons will be watching closely as they try to prepare for whatever version of the Chiefs shows up. [Read more 🡒]