Top 10 Atlanta Falcons Players Going Into the 2025-26 Season

The Falcons are in an interesting place. Obviously, last season they underperformed, mostly due to the regression of Kirk Cousins.

On paper, this is a team that can make the playoffs, all things considered. It'll come down to either them or Tampa winning the division.

I think if Michael Penix can continue to develop, then the Falcons may have an opportunity to make the playoffs and go on a run. I don't think they are Super Bowl contenders as of right now, but they could definitely make the playoffs.

I think this is a fairly well-rounded team as long as they don't have too many injuries. Don't sleep on the Falcons is all I have to say.

The Top Ten

Chris Lindstrom

Chris Lindstrom is elite, there's no doubt about that. He's one of the best players in the league at a high-value position.
Lindstrom is dominant in the trenches with excellent run-blocking skills. His 93.5 overall grade in 2024 ranked the best among all OGs according to PFF. Lindstrom is a huge reason why guys like Bijan are so successful.
Lindstrom is easily the biggest unsung hero for the Falcons' offense. He really is the anchor for that offensive line. He's made 3 straight Pro Bowls and 3 straight 2nd Team All-Pros.
Honestly, it doesn't get any better than him. He's the best in the business at his position and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Bijan Robinson

Bijan Robinson has been one of the best running backs in the league ever since he was a rookie. 2024 was a breakout year for him, where he showed his true potential, rushing for 1,456 yards (ranking top 3 in the league) and 14 rushing touchdowns (ranking top 7 in the league).
Bijan is arguably the best offensive weapon the Falcons have right now. He's been the one steady, consistent bright spot for the Falcons' offense. Atlanta may have very well been a 4-5 win team last season without Bijan. I definitely think he'll continue his productivity going forward in 2025.
Jessie Bates III

Jessie Bates is very good, maybe even elite. Easily the best defensive player the Falcons have right now.
Bates is a true ballhawk cornerback. He had 4 forced fumbles in 2024, which led the league, and 4 interceptions. Bates is arguably a top 10 safety in the league. He finished with 1 sack, 102 combined tackles, 62 solo tackles, and 2 tackles for loss.
His 2024 was maybe a slight step down compared to his 2023, but Bates is still very good. There's a reason why teams generally avoid throwing in his direction: he's a menace. PFF ranked him as the 12th-best safety in the league with an 80.7 overall grade in 2024.
Bates is clearly the leader of the Falcons' defense.
A.J. Terrell

A.J. Terrell is generally decent as a cornerback. He's solid in both man coverage and zone coverage.
Terrell has been pretty consistent throughout his career. He was outstanding his first two seasons. While his stats may not show it, he's been one of the better players on the Falcons' defense. He may not be a ballhawk cornerback, but he's been a good lockdown cornerback.
He finished the 2024 season with 2 interceptions, 66 combined tackles, 50 solo tackles, and 2 tackles for loss. 2024 was a bit of a bounce-back year for him. I'm curious to see if he'll continue to improve in 2025.
Drake London

Drake London is a solid wide receiver who is continuing to improve.
London is known for his size, strength, and ability to make contested catches. He's becoming an integral part of the Falcons' offense. He's also been reliable and has only missed one game in his career.
2024 was by far his best season, finishing with 100 receptions for 1,271 yards (ranking 4th in the league) and 9 touchdowns (ranking top 10). His overall PFF grade in 2024 was 87.8, ranking 7th in the NFL.
London is clearly the wide receiver 1 for Atlanta and is honestly one of the best receivers in the league who doesn't always get the recognition he deserves.
Michael Penix Jr.

Michael Penix is a weird case to study. I remember everyone and their mother criticizing the Falcons for selecting him that high in the draft, myself included. Turns out it happened to work out, kind of.
Kirk Cousins regressed hard, so much so that he was benched in favor of Michael Penix. As a rookie, Penix showed flashes of brilliance. He has a strong arm, an accurate deep ball, good pocket presence and awareness, and a genuinely high football IQ.
I think there's a lot to like with Michael Penix, but right now I just have to see more. Since his sample size is so minimal, there's not much to go off of. However, the potential upside for him to be arguably a top 10 quarterback in the league eventually is absolutely there.
Jalon Walker

I actually liked this pick for the Falcons in the 2025 draft. Walker has plenty of opportunities to shine for the Falcons' defense. They desperately needed some pass rushing help, and Walker should be the answer they've been waiting for.
He's incredibly athletic and versatile, playing both linebacker and EDGE. He has impressive pass rushing abilities and should be an immediate boost for the Falcons' defense. He finished 2024 with 6.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and a combined 60 tackles. I'm intrigued to see how well he performs this year. With his skill set, the sky is the limit for him.
Jake Matthews

Jacob "Jake" Matthews is an American football offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was selected sixth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M University. As of March 10, 2025, he signed a two-year, $45 million extension that runs through the 2028 season... read more

Jake Matthews has been a pretty solid blindside blocker for the Falcons for years now. He isn't necessarily elite, but he's definitely more than serviceable at an important position.
Some will argue he's a top 10 left tackle in the league, and there's plenty of validity to that claim. Matthews has been steady and consistent as a rock for over a decade now. He's played over 1,000 snaps in every season since 2015 and holds the Falcons franchise record and NFL record for consecutive starts at left tackle.
While he's not necessarily flashy, he shows up and gets the job done, which is all you need sometimes.
Darnell Mooney

I feel like Darnell Mooney is a very underrated NFL wide receiver. He was always a good, but not necessarily elite, wide receiver.
Mooney had a pretty strong 2024 season in Atlanta and became pretty reliable. He finished with 64 receptions for 992 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in 2024. Mooney excels at route running and can be a good deep threat option. Mooney isn't necessarily a headline wide receiver, but he's a solid complementary WR2 for Atlanta. He has shown improvement from his Bears tenure and has even more potential upside.
Younghoe Koo

Younghoe Koo will always have a cool story. From getting released by the Chargers to being an AAF legend and then reviving his career as a Falcon, it's truly an impressive comeback story.
Despite some recent fluctuations in his performance, he's still a great kicker and has a solid field goal percentage. His overall field goal percentage is 86%, and he had at least 86% in five consecutive seasons prior to 2024. Younghoe still made 100% of his extra points in 2024 despite a 73% field goal percentage.
He had a breakout season in 2020 and made a Pro Bowl. Despite his 2024 numbers being slightly down comparatively, Koo is still a respectable kicker and one of the better ones in the league currently.