Pro Football Focus ranked the Falcons defensive line among the worst units in the NFL
After spending big on free agents over the last two NFL offseasons, the Atlanta Falcons were forced to sit on the sidelines during the 2025 free agency period. The team’s lack of salary cap space led to the release of veteran Grady Jarrett after 10 seasons in Atlanta.
Jarrett found a new NFL home within hours of his release, signing a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears. Atlanta ended up signing former Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Morgan Fox to help replace Jarrett.
The Falcons still have veteran David Onyemata, but the overall unit did little to improve. Instead, the team focused on upgrading its outside pass rush, drafting both Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round.
Atlanta will have no choice but to rely on its young talent, including 2024 draft picks pick Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus, for interior defensive line depth. Pro Football Focus expressed doubts about Atlanta’s defensive line, ranking the unit among the worst in the NFL (30th) entering the 2025 NFL season.
Having fielded one of the NFL’s worst pass-rushing units in recent years, the Falcons can rank much higher on this list a year from now if first-round pick edge defender James Pearce Jr. lives up to his draft status. The defensive line has a ton of room to grow, as Atlanta ranked second to last in the NFL last season with a 24.6% pressure rate on plays without blitzing. — Zoltán Buday, PFF
The Falcons are hoping Pearce and Walker can elevate one of the NFL’s worst pass rushes. Last season, the team finished 31st out of 32 NFL teams with 31 total sacks.
Losing Jarrett, one of the better pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in the league, is a big loss. The Falcons still have Zach Harrison and Ta’Quon Graham, both of whom could play bigger roles this season, but the unit has more questions than answers at the moment.
We’ll have to wait and see what defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has up his sleeve this season.