The Falcons keep hearing the same national refrain about their quarterback situation, but that’s not the whole story in Atlanta. Beneath all the noise around Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix, there are several young players on the roster who have already started making their own case for bigger recognition.
One of the clearest examples is second-year safety Xavier Watts. Kevin Patra of NFL.com picked him as the Falcons’ potential first-time Pro Bowler, and it’s not hard to see why after what Watts did in his rookie season.
"Xavier Watts was all over the field during his rookie season, showing extended range on the back end of the Falcons' defense. The safety recorded five interceptions, 11 passes defended and 96 tackles in the ATL secondary.
Watts' ability to blanket every level of the field allows him to make plays. Entering his second season under DC Jeff Ulbrich, he’s just beginning to rise."
Watts already flashed big-play ability, and if he takes another step forward, a Pro Bowl nod would look more like the beginning than the peak. There’s still work to do, though.
As a rookie, he gave up more than 500 receiving yards, six touchdowns and a 98.7 passer rating in coverage, while also missing nine tackle attempts. Tighten up those areas, and the ceiling gets a lot higher.
Patra didn’t stop with Watts. He also listed wide receiver Drake London, left guard Matthew Bergeron, defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus, cornerback A.J. Terrell and linebacker Divine Deablo as other Falcons who could be first-time Pro Bowlers.
In Other News...
Falcons Fans Just Got Another Reason To Revisit The Darnell Mooney Move
The Falcons moved on from Darnell Mooney earlier this offseason, then pivoted by bringing in Jahan Dotson to fill the WR2 spot, a swap that made Atlantas receiver reshuffle one of the more notable roster decisions of the summer. Mooney, meanwhile, landed a one-year deal with the New York Giants, a fresh start that was supposed to give him a chance to re-establish his value in a new offense.
Instead, his standing in New York has already become part of the conversation, with Mooney sitting behind other receivers on the depth chart and the Giants reportedly weighing trade options. For Falcons fans, it is another little reminder that the teams choice to move on was not just about making room for Dotson, but about betting the receiving room could look different very quickly if the market and the roster both keep shifting. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Penix Jrs Recovery Just Raised The Stakes In Atlantas QB Race
Michael Penix Jr. is moving through the next phase of his recovery from a knee injury, and the timing matters more now because Atlanta still has not settled its quarterback decision for the season. He has been working in 7-on-7 drills, but full participation is still waiting on a doctors clearance, leaving the Falcons in a holding pattern as they sort through the competition under center.
Tua Tagovailoa is currently leading the race, but Penix remains very much in the mix if he gets the green light soon enough to get back into 11-on-11 work. For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious: the longer Penix stays in position to push, the more pressure there is on the staff to weigh not just health, but timing, readiness and how much practice time he can still bank before the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Former Falcons Star Kroy Biermann Faces A Painful Family Spotlight
A troubling family development has pushed former Falcons linebacker Kroy Biermann back into the spotlight, this time for reasons far removed from football. His son, Kroy Biermann Jr., was arrested and is being held without bond after facing aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery charges, according to the available facts. The alleged incident is said to have taken place on April 23, 2026, in a Lifetime Fitness changing room, adding another difficult chapter for a family that has long lived in public view.
Biermann Jr. was arraigned on Aug. 17, 2026, with attorney Jason Sheffield listed as his representative. For Falcons fans who remember Kroy Biermann as a steady defensive presence during his Atlanta years, the case is a stark and painful reminder of how quickly an athletes post-career life can be overshadowed by personal turmoil around him. [Read more 🡒]