2 weeks Ago By Fighting Irish Wire
It wasn’t what many expected, but Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 96 overall pick of the NFL drafts third round.The former wide receiver made the transition look smooth, as a junior he won the Bronko Nagurski Award, and was named a unanimous All-American.
Watts senior year wasn’t quite as successful as the year before, but he was still a consensus All-American. He finishes his Fighting Irish career playing in 55 games, with 188 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 13 interceptions with one returned for a score and 18 passes defended.
Social media reacted to the selection of Watts by the Falcons, and as you’ll see his coach Marcus Freeman’s thoughts is exactly the same sentiment from me. Xavier Watts becomes an Atlanta Falcon ❎ is ATL bound ☘️📺 2025 #NFLDraft- April 24-26 | NFL Network/ESPN/ABC #GoIrish☘️ | #NFLDraft | @xavierwatts6pic.twitter.
com/oVUYSXaoxL— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 26, 2025What a moment for Watts, to hear his named getting called in the NFL draft. We know that it wasn’t where he wanted to be selected, but he’ll use it as motivation and get to work with the Falcons.What led up to Xavier Watts getting drafted We have completed a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles pic.
twitter.com/hMI8f4hEVg— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 26, 2025Anytime a trade is made to move up and a team picks you, it’s a sign that they didn’t want to miss out. That’s exactly what happened with Watts, as the Falcons traded a pick later in the third and a fifth next year to move up and take the Irish star safety.
Head coach Marcus Freeman Delayed Gratification. We are so proud of you, X!!! pic.twitter.
com/24MjXh8CyC— Marcus Freeman (@Marcus_Freeman1) April 26, 2025It was a late night for coach Freeman, but well worth staying up to see Watts getting drafted. As he said in his post-spring press conference, players go through plenty of delayed gratification. That was exactly the case tonight.
ESPN’s Field Yates Huge fan of the Xavier Watts pick by the Falcons. A true ballhawk with 13 interceptions over the past two seasons (most in the FBS). Consistently in the right place at the right team and elite football instincts.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 26, 2025We saw plenty of that over the last two years, and Yates really likes the move the Falcons made with drafting Watts. It was very surprising to see him last this late into the draft, but Atlanta will be very happy with the former Notre Dame star. Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot on why Watts #Falcons GM Terry Fontenot on Notre Dame S Xavier Watts who was selected in the third round 96th overall.
pic.twitter.com/ALe4lbna8d— D.
Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) April 26, 2025The Falcons believed that there was going to be a run on safeties and Watts was high on their draft board. Fontenot was very complimentary about his newest Falcon, calling him a “stud.” They decided to be aggressive and went to get Watts.
We love Watts too I love me some Xavier Watts— SportsTalkATL.com (@SportsTalkATL) April 26, 2025You got to love when the local media is excited about a pick, in this case being Watts. We love him as well, as we saw him dominate the secondary over the last two seasons.
Xavier Watts reaction to getting selected Just a kid from Omaha. 🥹Omaha Burke alum Xavier Watts was just selected 96th overall by the Atlanta Falcons. pic.
twitter.com/ANElQOvB64— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) April 26, 2025It probably wasn’t something that Watts could see when transitioning from a wide receiver to a safety, but it all worked out in the end. You can see his relief that the process is over and he knows where his next football home is.
Congrats Xavier! This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Atlanta took Xavier Watts and social media was happy with the pick.
