Atlanta made a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles to move up in the third round and grab Watts.

Terrin Waack

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons traded up in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select University of Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts with the No. 96 overall pick.

The Falcons received No. 96 from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Atlanta's No. 101, also in the third round, and a 2026 fifth-rounder.

Watts was Notre Dame's first two-time consensus All-American since 1993, and one of only two players alongside Colorado's Travis Hunter to be named a consensus All-American in both 2023 and 2024. He finished out his five-year collegiate career with 13 interceptions and 31 passes defended.

Learn more about the Falcons' new addition below.

Height:6 feet

Weight:205 lbs

Age:23

School:University of Notre Dame

2024 Stats:16 starts | 82 tackles (3.5 for loss) | 16 passes defended (6 interceptions) | 1 forced fumble

• Click to view complete college stats

How he fits with the Falcons:Watts doesn't have athleticism that leaps off the tape or rare size, but he is an excellent football player. He has a feel for the game that seems almost preternatural at times, as evidenced by his 13 interceptions the last two seasons, which were the most of any player in college football. Like many of the defenders Atlanta has sought in the draft, Watts is a versatile player who played free safety, box safety and even linebacker during his career with the Irish. Watts also fits the character profile the Falcons seek and was a two-time team captain. Pairing Watts with Jessie Bates III gives Atlanta two safeties with very high football IQs who can work well off of each other to create confusion for opposing quarterbacks.

Expert Opinions

Dane Brugler, The Athletic:"Without imposing size or high-level explosiveness, Watts has been a slow-burn evaluation for NFL scouts, but his playmaking instincts are indisputable on tape. Although his aggressive nature leads to occasional mistakes, he plays with a quick, decisive trigger and his tone-setting toughness pops versus both run and pass. Overall, Watts isn't a safety you want playing man-to-man coverage against slot receivers very often, but he is a solid run defender with the route anticipation and ball skills to sniff out plays from depth. He projects as an NFL starter and would fit best in a split-safety, zone-heavy scheme, in which he can play two-deep and underneath zone."

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Safety with the versatility and ball skills to make plays from a variety of alignments. Watts plays with rare feel and instincts on the back-end, allowing him to range over the top in single-high or read and drive on throws as a split safety. Watts lined up over the slot at times in college, but he might not have the man-cover talent to do that as a pro. His ball skills and production are intoxicating, but his run support and tackling are quite sobering. Watts lacks pursuit discipline and fails to break down in space, leading to open-field misses and back-breaking mistakes. The tackling lowers his floor some, but I expect him to drift toward his ceiling because he's so good on the back-end."

Up Next

Videos

Falcons select Xavier Watts with No. 96 pick in 2025 draft

Videos

Xavier Watts College Highlights | 2025 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Jalon Walker Introductory Press Conference | 2025 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

James Pearce Jr. Introductory Press Conference | 2025 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Jalon Walker shares the mentorship he's received from Micah Parsons

Videos

Compact and Explosive: NFL+ spotlights Jalon Walker

Videos

NFL+: Pearce Jr. is 'Explosive Off the Edge'

Videos

Why the Atlanta Falcons selected Edge James Pearce Jr. | 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich Draft Exclusive Interview | NFL Draft 2025

Videos

TWO edge rushers in the first round! Instant reactions to Jalon Walker & James Pearce Jr. picks

Videos

Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich Draft Exclusive Interview | NFL Draft 2025

Videos

Why the Atlanta Falcons selected Edge James Pearce Jr. | 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

Why the Atlanta Falcons selected Edge Jalon Walker | 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

James Pearce Jr. gets the phone call | 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

James Pearce Jr. ready to prove it out on field for Atlanta Falcons | Press Conference

Videos

Jalon Walker speaks on staying in front of a Georgia crowd | 2025 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

James Pearce Jr. is 'Ready to go' on the field with Falcons | 2025 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris Night One Press Conference | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Jalon Walker on excitement to stay in Georgia with the Falcons | 2025 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Jalon Walker gets the phone call | 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

Falcons select James Pearce Jr. with No. 26 in the 2025 Draft

Videos

James Pearce Jr. College Highlights | 2025 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Brooks, Zierlein detail Jalon Walker being selected by Falcons at No. 15 overall 'NFL Draft Center'

Videos

Jalon Walker College Highlights | 2025 NFL Draft | Atlanta Falcons

Videos

Falcons select Jalon Walker with No. 15 pick in 2025 draft

Videos

Atlanta Falcons GM Terry Fontenot and Head Coach Raheem Morris exclusive pre-draft Interview | NFL

Videos

Terry Fontenot shares insights ahead of 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

Draft Preview Extravaganza! Falcons experts make their 1st round picks

Videos

Full Falcons draft preview & first round predictions | Falcons Audible Podcast

Videos

Atlanta Falcons are back for the offseason program

Videos

Top Edge rusher prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft | Arch's Top Prospects

Videos

Who will the Atlanta Falcons pick in the 1st Round? | Tori McElhaney's Mock Draft | 2025 NFL Draft

Videos

Draft week kickoff! What moves the Falcons could make in all 7 rounds | Atlanta Falcons Podcast

Videos

On the Rise | S5E1 | Behind the scenes of the Atlanta Falcons NFL Scouting Combine and Free Agency

Videos

Top Atlanta Falcons Cornerback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft | Arch's Top Prospects

Videos

Top Defensive & Offensive line prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft | Arch's Top Prospects

Videos

Falcons join Compassion International on a life-changing trip to the Dominican Republic

Videos

Every Julio Jones catch from NFC Championship game vs. Packers | Highlights

Videos

Julio Jones joins D-BLOCK | Throwback

Videos

Every catch from Julio Jones' career high 300-yard game against the Panthers | Highlights