ESPN places Falcons, Saints at the bottom of 2025 NFL offseason grades

The NFL offseason gives each team the chance to retool their roster, whether it’s through the draft, free agency or via trade. The Atlanta Falcons signed a few free agents but focused primarily on the draft due to their lack of salary cap space.

The team selected Georgia standout Jalon Walker with the 15th overall pick before trading back up to pick No. 26 for Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. NFL analysts almost unanimously praised the Falcons for their selection of Walker, but many were split on the decision to trade up for Pearce.

Fans who were familiar with Atlanta’s pass-rush woes seemed to be okay with the move, however, trading away a future first-round pick is always risky.

Count ESPN’s Seth Walder among the skeptics. In a new feature grading each team’s overall offseason, the Falcons earned the second-lowest grade (C-) in the NFL:

Atlanta’s biggest move came during the first night of the draft — and it was a shocker. After making a perfectly fine selection of Jalon Walker at No. 15, the Falcons inexplicably dealt picks Nos. 46, 242 and a future first-round pick for Nos. 26 and 101. The Falcons’ target? Pearce, another pass rusher. There’s nothing wrong with taking two edge rushers to fill a need. But there is everything wrong with dealing a future first to move up into the back end of the first round for a non-quarterback.

Pearce was also off multiple teams’ draft boards due to maturity concerns, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported. The value was bad, but it’s potentially disastrous if the Falcons end up picking early in next year’s draft. That is fully within the range of outcomes — quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is a mostly unknown quantity and FPI considers Atlanta the 26th-best team in the league entering this season. This was an unforced error and a bad one. — Seth Walder, ESPN

The Falcons’ gamble could certainly pay off, and if it does, general manager Terry Fontenot will rightfully earn more trust from the fan base. It wasn’t all bad for Atlanta, though. There was one team that finished below the Falcons in ESPN’s offseason feature.

The New Orleans Saints earned a “D” grade, which was the lowest in the entire NFL. Not only did the team lose its starting quarterback, there doesn’t seem to be a clear plan as first-time head coach Kellen Moore takes over.

“So the Saints got the result they needed but through sheer luck — their process was flawed,” wrote Walder. “In the grade above, I’m judging them by the decision they tried to make; the result was better, given the surprise retirement.”

The only difference is the Falcons actually have expectations this season, while nobody will be surprised if the Saints are among the worst teams in the NFL. Atlanta reports for training camp on July 23, with the first open practice coming on July 24.

– Check out our latest Falcons 53-man roster projection ahead of training camp