The Atlanta Falcons defense has undergone a slight makeover since the start of the 2025 NFL offseason. The team drafted two dynamic edge rushers — Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. — while releasing veteran defensive lineman Grady Jarrett. Atlanta later added edge rusher Leonard Floyd and defensive lineman Morgan Fox in free agency.
Not only did the Falcons bring in several new faces, but they have a new defensive coordinator in Jeff Ulbrich. With so many moving pieces, the defense needs its veteran players to step up.
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Defensive lineman David Onyemata often gets lost in the shuffle, but without Jarrett, the team will rely on him more than ever this season. In 2023, Onyemata followed former defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen from New Orleans to Atlanta, signing with the Falcons as a free agent.
The former Saints defensive lineman had one of his best seasons in 2023. While Onyemata wasn’t quite as effective in 2024 under defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, he’s been a consistent interior presence throughout his career.
Pro Football Focus listed Onyemata as the team’s most underrated player going into the 2025 season, praising his consistency:
The Manitoba product has been a staple in the middle of NFC South defensive lines since 2016, playing more than 5,300 defensive snaps between his time with the New Orleans Saints and the Falcons. At 32 years old, Onyemata is coming off his seventh season of logging more than 500 defensive snaps, proving to be one of the more reliable players at his position in recent years. Since joining the Falcons in 2023, Onyemata owns the 14th-best PFF run-defense grade (73.1) and the 21st-best PFF overall grade (77.7) among qualifying players at his position. — Jonathon Macri, PFF
The 32-year-old is entering the final year of his contract in Atlanta and should play an even bigger role with Jarrett out of the picture. The Falcons drafted two defensive tackles in last year’s draft, but we saw very little of second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro or fourth-rounder Brandon Dorlus during the season.
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Head coach Raheem Morris said he intends to get the team’s younger players more involved this season.
“Make no mistake about it, we’re going to have some real intentionality about playing our rookies this year,” Morris said at the start of rookie minicamp. “Getting those guys on the grass and giving them an opportunity to play a significant amount of football for us.”
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons DT David Onyemata named Atlanta’s most underrated player