Atlanta Falcons 2025 Season Preview
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports)
The Atlanta Falcons are looking to capitalize on a season in which plenty of young talent showed promise while adding a veteran presence and key draft picks in the offseason. The Falcons have yet to make the playoffs since that Super Bowl run in 2016. This upcoming season could very well be their year.
Atlanta had plenty of young guys take a step forward in 2024, a promising sign for years to come. Michael Penix Jr. officially took over as the starting QB after Kirk Cousins struggled in the role. Despite Cousins being on a massive contract, the Falcons have decided to keep him on the roster as a backup to Penix. While there are questions with who Penix will become, the main questions around the team are on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons had some of the worst pass rushing production in football last season. They had to make an effort to improve their ability to get after the quarterback if they have any hopes of making the playoffs in 2025.
Departures: They opted to let a few key players walk in exchange for new faces. EDGE Matthew Judon, SAF Justin Simmons, SAF Richie Grant, DT Grady Jarrett, DT Eddie Goldman, CB Antonio Hamilton, EDGE Lorenzo Carter, and C Drew Dalman will all be in different places next season.
Additions: Atlanta signed LB Divine Deablo and DL Morgan Fox to two-year contracts while the team also signed WR Jamal Agnew, EDGE Leonard Floyd, and SAF Jordan Fuller to one-year deals. All players will play an important role on this year’s team. However, those signings to the front seven could be to prove the most important improvements in the division.
Draft Selections: In the draft, the Falcons clearly recognized their pass-rushing problems. They selected Georgia EDGE/LB with their original 1st round pick. It is unclear whether Walker will play more of a linebacker or edge rusher role. When I think of what he can be in the NFL, I think of a superstar version of Michael Hoecht. The Falcons decided to double down and trade back into the 1st round to select Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. This move was a bit risky for my taste. You cannot deny the production that Pearce had at Tennessee, but there are underlying concerns. On the field, he is undersized and plays too stiff. He shows off virtually no bend. Off the field, character concerns have been highlighted and leave the NFL circles concerned about who he is as a player and teammate.
Season Predictions: The Falcons play in a weaker division, but their schedule as a whole will not be a walk in the park. They start the season at home against the Buccaneers before traveling to Minnesota to play the Vikings on Sunday Night Football. They follow that primetime game with another road game in Week 3 against the Panthers and finish September at home against the Commanders. The Falcons go 2-2 in September.
The Falcons have a Week 5 bye before hosting the Bills on Monday Night Football and a Sunday Night Football game in San Francisco against the 49ers. They come back home to host the Dolphins to end the month and go 1-2 in October.
Atlanta opens November in Foxboro against the Patriots before going over to Berlin to face the Colts. They have to quickly come back from Germany to host the Panthers the following week. To end November, they have two road gams against the Saints and the Jets. The Falcons go 4-1 in November.
In the final stretch of the season, the Falcons host the Seahawks, travel south to face the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football, play the Cardinals in Arizona, and finish the season by hosting the Rams on Monday Night football and hosting the Saints. The Falcons go 3-2 in this stretch.
Final Thoughts: I have the Atlanta Falcons finishing 2025 with a record of 10-7. I believe a 10-win season would be enough to make the playoffs in the NFC, which would be a welcomed sight for a team in the midst of a playoff drought. This type of season will require rookies to perform and for Michael Penix Jr. to take a real step forward, both of which are realistic possibilities.
