This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
Falcons Secondary Loaded with Talent, According to Top 99 Defensive Player Rankings
FLOWERY BRANCH, GEORGIA - MAY 27: Jessie Bates III #3 of the Atlanta Falcons runs through drills during OTA's at IBM Performance Field on May 27, 2026 in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the unfortunate injury to Jalon Walker , other pieces of the defense will have to step up to alleviate the loss of his versatility and athleticism. According to Bleacher Report’s Top 99 defensive players ranking , the Atlanta Falcons secondary is loaded with talent to handle the loss of Walker and possibly James Pearce Jr., and his pending suspension.
Bleacher Report graded what looks to be every player in the NFL on a grade of 0-100. After grading, they split them into categories based on their final grade. For the Top 99 ranking, the categories are as follows:
The Standard (97-100)
Franchise Cornerstones (94-96)
All-Pro Ability (90-93)
Pro-Bowl Caliber (85-89)
High-Quality Starter (80-84)
Critical Roster Piece (75-79)
Falcons Secondary is Loaded
It’s just as Allen Strk wrote this morning . The Falcons have three of the top 60 players, including one of only 10 players who earned a 90+ grade.
#58, S Xavier Watts, Grade: 81
Xavier Watts deserved a stronger push for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025. He makes up half of the best safety duo in the league with Jessie Bates, allowed Bates to roam closer to the line of scrimmage, and helped unlock the defense and create turnovers. Watts had five interceptions and 11 passes broken up as a rookie, was a plus run defender from depth, and, while there were some lapses, he showed the ability to recover not just physically but also mentally. He didn’t look like a rookie out there; he handled more rotations, living on top of the defense, and the NFL stage like he was meant to be there.
Xavier Watts falling to pick 96 was unreal. Rookie who plays with the demeanor of a veteran safety. The #Falcons got an absolute STEAL pic.twitter.com/vLYYdaf0vE
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 17, 2025
When the Falcons were able to bring in both Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman, who I believe would have flirted with making this list if not for his injury, in last year’s draft, it felt like a dream come true. Watts’ range and ability to diagnose plays allowed Bates to immediately make an impact closer to the line of scrimmage, a much better role for him as he continues to age gracefully.
As for Watts, we have to remember that he is still going into his sophomore season. This was his first action under the NFL microscope, and he knocked it out of the park. Now, it’s time to build on it for even more fireworks in the second act. Watts was listed as the 16th safety, going just behind names like Camryn Bynum, Jaylinn Hawkins, Amani Hooker and Grant Delpit.
#56, CB A.J. Terrell, Grade: 81
One of the more underrated corners in the NFL, AJ Terrell is a technician on the outside who forced tight-window throws at the fourth-highest rate in the league last season. He mirrors well, attacks the catch point consistently, and is a willing and able run supporter. Bigger route-runners with a good catch radius take advantage of the space he gives them in off coverage, but he closes and uses leverage well. He doesn’t create a ton of turnovers, but still gets his hands on the football a lot.
#Falcons AJ Terrell (top of the screen). Zone vision in the outside 1/3. See the QB/react to the wheel route. pic.twitter.com/zAf7DiA2T3
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) October 28, 2024
A technician through and through, A.J. Terrell continues to give Atlanta’s outside much-needed stability as they revamp the defense. On the other side, we’re still not entirely sure whether it will be his brother Avieon or if they’ll continue to roll with Mike Hughes, as Avieon either stays inside as a nickel or becomes a depth piece.
Whichever way it goes, you can count on one thing: A.J. will show up and be a force. Terrell was ranked as the 11th-best outside cornerback, just behind names like Kamari Lassiter, Jaycee Horn, Sauce Gardner, and Trent McDuffie.
#8, S Jessie Bates, Grade: 91
Jesse Bates sees things before they happen and shows up exactly where he needs to be to make the play. It’s like watching Mysterio fighting Spider-Man, always appearing in places the quarterback doesn’t want him to be and taking the ball away. Bates is one of the prominent ball-hawks in today’s game, and he seamlessly rotates all around the back end, handling a ton of mental responsibilities. He played closer to the line of scrimmage last season than ever before and played fast, took away underneath routes, and helped condense the offense. A continually impressive player continues an impressive career.
Jessie Bates picks off Daniel Jones before the half! ATLvsIND on @NFLNetwork Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/MRMc6htH15
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
What else is there to say about the impact that Jessie Bates has had on this Falcons defense since he first donned the uniform in 2023? Bates has been everything he was promised to be and more as the Falcons continue to find their identity on that side of the ball. Bates is listed as the third-best safety in football behind only Kyle Hamilton and Xavier McKinney.
Despite some of the questions up front, there’s no question that the trio of Bates, Watts and Terrell gives this defense a floor that most Falcons defenses did not.
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.
