FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After a defense-focused offseason, the Atlanta Falcons entered the 2025 season with two rookies starting in their secondary.
Third-round pick Xavier Watts was the Week 1 starter at safety opposite Jessie Bates III, while fourth-round selection Billy Bowman Jr. earned first reps in the slot. They were the two new faces for a group that otherwise featured a lot of continuity, and the early returns for both players were excellent.
Watts intercepted five passes, tied for the second-most in the NFL, and finished third on the team in tackles. He was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-NFC and All-Rookie teams and was recently announced as a finalist for the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Bowman played six games for the Falcons before an Achilles injury ended his season early, and he left quite the impression in his limited time. The tenacity with which he plays in the slot is inspiring, and he showed a penchant for big plays with two pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
When Bowman went down, Dee Alford resumed his starting nickel responsibilities from last season with much better results. It was a redemptive season for Alford, who made some clutch plays for Atlanta’s defense throughout the year. A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes were the primary outside cornerbacks for most of the year, although a late-season injury to Hughes created a bit of a rotation. Terrell had another excellent year and held opposing receivers to an average of 2 yards of separation, which ranked fourth-best among outside corners.
And then there’s Bates. Atlanta’s team captain was one of the most important players on the roster last season, even if his stat line was overshadowed by others’ at times. As the best players often do, though, Bates rose to the occasion in the biggest games. His first interception came against Drake Maye and the 6-2 Patriots; his second against Daniel Jones and the 7-2 Colts; and his third and final interception was a pick-six against Matthew Stafford and the 11-4 Los Angeles Rams on “Monday Night Football.”
All told, it was a good year for Atlanta’s secondary. At one point in the fall, the Falcons owned the league’s best passing defense, and they are in a great position to build upon their strong season. Here’s a synopsis of how this group did in 2025.