FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — General manager Terry Fontenot slept very well Thursday night after the Atlanta Falcons’ first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Two proven edge rushers in Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.? Success.

And then Fontenot woke up Friday morning to a text from assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray that got his mind already planning for the second and third rounds.

“Hey, congratulations on last night,” it said. “Great moves. Very excited about what we’re adding to this team. Great night. But in the famous words of Janet Jackson, she famously sang, ‘What have you done for me lately?'”

Fontenot knew the Falcons needed to draft somebody for the secondary.

Atlanta entered Friday with just one pick – No. 101 in the third round — after a first-round trade that involved the Falcons’ original 46th pick in the second round. Fontenot was patient initially, until picks in the 90s started ticking off the board. When No. 96 rolled around, it was announced the Falcons traded with the Philadelphia Eagles to move up and select Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts.

“We all like him,” Fontenot said. “Starting with the makeup, outstanding character. Serious worker. Competitor. High-end instincts. Former receiver. Ball hawk. More picks than anybody in college ball last two years.

Watts was a two-year starter at the University of Notre Dame. Between the 2023-24 seasons, he totaled 134 tackles, with 6.5 for a loss, in addition to half a sack, two forced fumbles, 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed. During his final year, he had a 100-yard pick six, too.

Those 13 picks were most in the NCAA these past two seasons combined. No other player broke double digits.

“It’s not by coincidence,” Watts said. “I have a really good feeling for the game of football, and I’m able to get the ball.”