Bijan Robinson was the highest-rated Falcons player on CBS Sports’ Top 100

The 2025 NFL season is just around the corner, and with it, the Atlanta Falcons have a chance to get back in the playoffs for the first time since 2017. With Michael Penix Jr. taking over at quarterback and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich returning to lead the defense, the team will look to improve upon last year’s 8-9 record.

While the Falcons still have some major question marks, their offense has the potential to be an elite unit this season. Chris Lindstrom leads a talented offensive line and Bijan Robinson is one of the NFL’s rising stars. Both players were listed on CBS Sports’ top 100 players of 2025.

3 Falcons make CBS Sports ‘Top 100 players’

Robinson was the highest-rated Falcons player, landing at No. 39 in Pete Prisco’s rankings. The former No. 8 overall pick has more than lived up to the immense hype he received ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

“In his second season in the league, Robinson was third in the league with 1,456 yards rushing,” Prisco wrote of Robinson. “He averaged an impressive 4.8 per rush, while also catching 61 passes.”

Next up on CBS Sports’ rankings was Lindstrom, who landed at No. 43 on the list.

Chris Lindstrom: Ranked No. 43

“Lindstrom is one of the best interior players in the league, a dominant run blocker who has improved in pass protection,” wrote Prisco. “At 28, he still has a lot of good football in front of him.”

The Falcons gave Lindstrom a $105 million extension in 2023 and he has continued to produce at an elite level in the two seasons since. Safety Jessie Bates III was the last member of the team to make the list. Bates was ranked at No. 73.

Jessie Bates: Ranked No. 73

“Bates’ play slipped a little last season in his second with the Falcons, but he remains a top-tier safety,” explained Prisco. “He just turned 28, so he still has a lot of good football left.”

Bates had a solid year, even if his supporting cast failed him at times. The playmaking safety received little help from Atlanta’s defensive line. The Falcons finished 31st in the NFL with 31 total sacks last season, which put extra stress on the secondary

With two new edge rushers, extra help in the secondary, and a more experienced play-caller, Atlanta’s defense has nowhere to go but up in 2025.