Xavier Watts - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Xavier Watts is bound to become one of the NFL's scariest defenders in Year 2 The Atlanta Falcons are counting on superstar safety Xavier Watts to become an elite player in 2026.

2 DAYS AGO • BLOGGINGDIRTY.COM

Falcons' Jessie Bates, Xavier Watts Have One Trait That Makes Them Elite Jessie Bates III and Xavier Watts rarely need words to communicate on the field, giving the Falcons one of the NFL's smartest safety tandems...

JULY 4 • SI.COM

Sitting out practice as precaution Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday at mandatory minicamp that Watts (undisclosed) is not practicing due to a small injury, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Stefanski declined to get into the specifics of Watts' injury, but he indicated that the team is simply being cautious with his health. The 2025 third-round pick emerged as a standout at safety as a rookie, suiting up for all 17 regular-season games and totaling 96 tackles (59 solo) and 11 passes defensed, including five interceptions. There are no indications that Watts' status for the start of training camp in July is of any concern.

JUNE 17 • ROTOWIRE

Falcons' Xavier Watts is another step away from becoming a household name Xavier Watts shined in his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons, but he hasn't even scratched the surface of his potential.

JUNE 16 • BLOGGINGDIRTY.COM

Atlanta's defensive ceiling depends on young playmakers stepping up | Sporting News The Falcons are confident their defense will take a step forward in 2026, but replacing veteran leaders Kaden Elliss and David Onyemata won’...

JUNE 14 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Jeff Ulbrich sent an emphatic message about Falcons' star DB duo Jeff Ulbrich just dropped a major compliment about the Atlanta Falcons' safety tandem of Jessie Bates and Xavier Watts.

JUNE 1 • BLOGGINGDIRTY.COM

49ers' pursuit of star safety can help Raheem Morris cater to his strengths Raheem Morris had success with Xavier Watts and Jessie Bates III in Atlanta, and may do the same if the San Francisco 49ers draft Emmanuel M...

APRIL 14 • NINERNOISE.COM

New NFL initiative saw just Xavier Watts capitalize on a breakout rookie season Xavier Watts was one of the best players on the Atlanta Falcons in 2025, and the NFL's performance-based play initiative made sure he was re...

MARCH 17 • BLOGGINGDIRTY.COM

Another Award for Browns: LB Carson Schwesinger Is Defensive Rookie of the Year

There were several defensive rookie standouts in 2025, but Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger stood above them all.

FEBRUARY 6 • FOX SPORTS

Another Award for Browns: LB Carson Schwesinger Is Defensive Rookie of the Year

AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Voting

FEBRUARY 6 • Associated Press

Photos | Atlanta Falcons on the Red Carpet at NFL Honors Join Bijan Robinson, A.J. Terrell Jr., James Pearce Jr., and Xavier Watts in San Francisco as they walk the red carpet at the NFL Honors awa...

FEBRUARY 6 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Matthew Stafford edges Drake Maye for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award

Matthew Stafford edged Drake Maye for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award on Thursday night in the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003

FEBRUARY 5 • Associated Press

2025 Rookie Class Highlights | Top plays from Atlanta Falcons defensive rookies Watch top plays from defensive rookies James Pearce Jr., Xavier Watts, Jalon Walker, and Billy Bowman Jr. in the 2025 season.

JANUARY 30 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

The case for James Pearce Jr. or Xavier Watts as AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Both of the Falcons rookies were announced as finalists for the annual award — here's why each should win.

JANUARY 23 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

2025 NFL Awards Finalists: Maye, Stafford Headline MVP Race; McCaffrey Makes History

Christian McCaffrey is the first player to be a finalist for three AP NFL awards as he was the only non-QB named a finalist for MVP.

JANUARY 22 • FOX SPORTS

2025 NFL Awards Finalists: Maye, Stafford Headline MVP Race; McCaffrey Makes History

James Pearce Jr., Xavier Watts named finalists for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year The winner of the annual honor will be announced at NFL Honors in February.

JANUARY 22 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Xavier Watts, James Pearce Jr. make PFWA All-Rookie team The two Falcons defenders were selected by the Professional Football Writers of America after standout rookie seasons

JANUARY 20 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Improved pass rush helps Falcons defensive coordinator Ulbrich stay on new coach Stefanski's staff

The Atlanta Falcons are retaining defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on new coach Kevin Stefanski’s staff

JANUARY 19 • Associated Press

The Top Offseason Goal for Every NFL Team That Missed the Playoffs

What do the 18 teams who missed the NFL playoffs need to do in order to make the postseason next year? Here's our No. 1 offseason goal for a...

JANUARY 9 • FOX SPORTS

The Top Offseason Goal for Every NFL Team That Missed the Playoffs

Stellar rookie campaign Watts posted 96 total tackles (59 solo) and 11 passes defensed, including five interceptions, across 17 regular-season games in 2025.

Impact Watts, a 2025 third-round pick from Florida State, made an instant impact in Atlanta, tying for the second-most interceptions in the NFL while ranking third on the team in total tackles and passes defensed. His best game of the season came in the Week 17 upset win over the Rams, when he recorded five total tackles and picked off MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford twice. Entering his second NFL season, Watts could continue to emerge as one of the league's premier ball hawks in 2026.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Falcons owner Blank reveals plan for management changes following the firings of Morris and Fontenot

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has revealed in a letter to fans that Sunday night’s firings of coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot are not the only moves pla...

JANUARY 5 • Associated Press

Falcons fire coach Raheem Morris, GM Terry Fontenot hours after finishing 8-9 season

The Atlanta Falcons have fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot

JANUARY 5 • Associated Press

Falcons beat Saints 19-17 to hand division title to Panthers. Atlanta fires coach and GM hours later

Dee Alford’s red-zone interception stopped a potential go-ahead drive by New Orleans, and the Atlanta Falcons beat the Saints 19-17 to give the NFC South title to the Carolina Pant...

JANUARY 4 • Associated Press

A.J. Terrell's forced fumble ends Saints' opening drive on its first play The New Orleans Saints begin their opening drive with a completed pass from quarterback Tyler Shough to tight end Juwan Johnson, but Atlanta...

JANUARY 4 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM

Xavier Watts' breakout campaign has garnered attention from All-Pro teammate Xavier Watts' breakout rookie season has his Atlanta Falcons teammate Jessie Bates III singing his praises.

JANUARY 3 • BLOGGINGDIRTY.COM

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