Falcons' $84 million free agency miss hints at Atlanta's next potential power move

The Atlanta Falcons are poised to field an exciting young defense following the 2025 NFL Draft, where they selected two pass rushers in the first round and continued to focus on defense throughout the later rounds. Last season, the Falcons' pass rush was underwhelming, making the draft a critical opportunity to address that weakness.

“Raheem Morris says he was tired of getting grilled for the lack of a pass rush for the Falcons, and they were intentional about fixing that this offseason,” Will McFadden wrote. “That's got to change, and the only way to change that is to change that."

A key piece of the defense this season—and likely for years to come—is first-round pick Jalon Walker. Walker is already drawing comparisons to Micah Parsons, according to his own general manager.

“The way he plays. The physicality. The toughness. The instincts. It all screams off the tape. … And he’s such a versatile piece that he can play on the edge. He can play stack. He can rush from any area on the field,” Terry Fontenot said.

With a young defensive core, the Falcons will need a strong veteran presence—and they have that in Jessie Bates. The experienced safety is eager to share his knowledge with the younger players. Still, Atlanta came close to adding even more veteran leadership by pursuing cornerback Jaire Alexander.

“Falcons, he was considering,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday on SportsCenter. “Miami Dolphins, he was also considering. But Baltimore had the clear edge throughout that process."

Missing out on Alexander was a setback, but it highlights Atlanta’s ongoing pursuit of a proven cornerback to support A.J. Terrell. The failed move is telling—it suggests that the Falcons may not be done adding to their secondary. They could even be in discussions with the Dolphins about a potential trade for Jalen Ramsey. While many scenarios remain possible, one thing is clear: acquiring another cornerback remains a top priority, and the miss with Alexander only reinforces that need.