Falcons fortify defense, gain depth on offense in seven-round 2025 NFL mock draft

Saivion Mixson

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Falcons fortify defense, gain depth on offense in seven-round 2025 NFL mock draft image

A seven-round 2025 NFL mock draft in July is sicko behavior, but that did not stop Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings from doing it. That’s right football fans, seven rounds and 225 picks to study for your viewing pleasure. For the Atlanta Falcons, Cummings gave Falcons fans six names to study for the upcoming season, ranging from the SEC to the Mountain West. In the exercise, Cummings had the Falcons fortify their defense early and then gradually gain depth on the offense, an approach based loosely on the lack of knowledge of how Atlanta’s defense will look this season.

Enough stalling. Here is how the first seven-round mock draft for the 2025 NFL draft season went for the Falcons:

Round 1, Pick 20 - Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Falcons’ decision to pass up multiple opportunities to add high-level EDGE talent in the 2024 NFL Draft could come back to bite them. But they will have a chance to rectify their mistakes in the 2025 cycle. Early on, Nic Scourton looks like a particularly exciting fit.

At around 6’4″, 280 pounds, Scourton has the look and feel of a power rusher who plays with his hand in the dirt. But then you watch him work as a standing rusher from 7-tech and wide-9, using his finesse to win with brutal spins. He’s the total package.

By George, it finally happened. They did it. Atlanta finally addressed the putrid pass rush that has haunted this organization since John Abraham left in 2012. With their selection of Brandon Dorlus this season, Atlanta has shown that under head coach Raheem Morris, the more ways you can be featured on a defensive line, the better. Scourton has a chance to show his versatility with more talent at Texas A&M, but the 280+ pound edge rusher makes his money feasting on tackles and using his power to plunge them into the dirt.

Round 2, Pick 52 - Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington

The Falcons have an intriguing CB room, but Clark Phillips may eventually translate better in the slot. On the boundary, they’d benefit from having a lengthy presence like Ephesians Prysock — a 6’4″, 190-pound cover man with size-defying quickness and reactive motion.

Don’t give me that look. I love Clark Phillips III just as much as the next man, but he is better utilized inside, and guys like Kevin King and Antonio Hamilton, Sr. are better as depth. So, where does that leave the CB2 position? Vacant

Not anymore. While his former teammate at Arizona last season, Tacario Davis, is getting most of the hype, Prysock continued to hone his skills as a 6’4”, lengthy cornerback who can be extremely disruptive.

Round 3, Pick 84 - Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

Atlanta could use more firepower past Drake London and Kyle Pitts. At 6’0″, 195 pounds, Jalen Royals is a twitched-up separator with a clutch gene verified by 15 TDs in 2023.

How much help does Drake London need? All of it.

Royals will be a Senior at Utah State and has an uncanny ability to separate from defenders early in routes. That kind of separation could make Royals a reliable target regardless of who is throwing him most of his passes as a Falcon, Cousins or Penix.

Oh, he can also do things like this, too:

Round 4, Pick 117 - Austin Barber, OT, Florida

A solid athlete at left tackle, the 6’6’, 316-pound Barber has a pass-blocking upside that could make him a depth piece for the Falcons offensive line. Barber has also shown some nastiness in the run game, finishing blockers through the ground and looking for work whenever possible.

Round 5, Pick 149 - Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan

That’s right. Another running back. And why not? The hit rate for running backs varies heavily in the NFL. Teams can find a good running back in virtually every round of the draft now. Edwards’ speed once he hits the open field is special. It was on full display in the National Championship last season against Washington. He’s a more boom-or-bust running back than most would prefer, but when he booms, it makes for quite the explosive play.

Round 7, Pick 212 - Flip Dixon, S, Rutgers

Michael “Flip” Dixon is a hard-hitting safety who showed he’s just as comfortable making the hits near the line of scrimmage as he is covering downfield in his first year as a Rutgers Scarlet Knight. Atlanta needs talent at safety with Grant being such a question mark. Dixon gives them that depth.

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Saivion Mixson

Saivion Mixson Photo

Saivion Mixson is a graduate of the University of North Florida’s Sports Management program. He was previously a staff writer/content creator for LastWordonSports, Around The Block Network, Fansided’s Blogging Dirty and USA Today’s Vikings Wire. Mixson resides in the Charlotte Metro area and is an avid Atlanta Falcons fan. You can find him on Twitter/X @MixsonS_NFL.