While most of the focus this offseason has been on the Falcons‘ quarterback battle, Atlanta’s young talent throughout the rest of their roster will be just as important to their success in 2025. It’s vital to have the right quarterback in place, and that must be the Falcons’ top focus for the rest of this offseason. But the three Falcons featured on the top 100 players list compiled by Pete Prisco of CBS Sports should play just as large of a role during their quest for their first division title since 2016.
Jessie Bates III the Only Falcon Returning From Last Year’s Top 100 List
Jessie Bates III entered last season as the No. 44 player on Prisco’s 2024 Top 100 list. While his numbers slipped a bit in terms of tackles and interceptions, Bates still enjoyed a solid season. Heading into the 2025 season, PFF‘s Zoltán Buday ranked Bates as the No. 3 safety in the league, just behind superstars Kyle Hamilton and Xavier McKinney. Buday notes that while Bates couldn’t “replicate his success” from his first year as a Falcon, “he was still among the best safeties in the league in 2024.” “He was especially good in coverage, evidenced by his 81.4 PFF coverage grade, which ranked eighth at the position,” writes Buday.
As Prisco writes, Bates “remains a top-tier safety” who “still has a lot of good football left,” considering he just turned 28 in February. His 80.2 grade ranked 12th out of 171 qualifying safeties, which should be an encouraging sign for the Falcons. If a down year results in production just outside the top 10 at your position, you are clearly among the elite in your role, and deserving of a spot among the top 100 players in the league.
Bijan Robinson, Chris Lindstrom Both Making First Appearance on List
The other Falcons included on the top 100 list were superstar running back Bijan Robinson and top-rated guard Chris Lindstrom.
Robinson was an honorable mention on Prisco’s 2024 list. But, after a season in which the second-year pro finished third in the league in rushing and earned a Pro Bowl nod, he shot all the way up to No. 39. Robinson trails only Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs in Prisco’s rankings, but earned the second-best PFF rushing grade (92.1) in the league last year. With Michael Penix Jr. at the helm in 2025, Robinson should be primed to jump even further up the top 100 list and compete for a rushing title.
Lindstrom has been one of the most consistent guards in the league since becoming a full-time starter in 2020. As PFF‘s Mason Cameron writes, he “is as dominant a force on the interior as they come.” Prisco calls Lindstrom “a power player in the run game” who “should start to get more acclaim this season.” The 7th-year guard has earned a Pro Bowl berth and 2nd-Team All-Pro nod in three consecutive seasons, leading all guards in PFF grading each year. Lindstrom is a dominant run-blocker, earning the highest run blocking PFF grade in the league (94.6). While his pass blocking grade (68.0) doesn’t stand out, it still remains above average. He also surrendered just 1 sack on 627 pass blocking snaps in 2024.
3 Falcons Featured Among Top 100 Players Heading Into 2025