The Falcons give a star player a partner in crime in a 2025 NFL mock draft with one of the big winners from the combine

Falcons land South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori in a new 2025 NFL Mock Draft

"It's hard to be sure about anything when it comes to the NFL Draft. Just last year, we saw the Falcons shocked the world when they used their first-round pick on Michael Penix Jr. But one of the things I feel strongest about in this year's draft is that the Falcons are going to target defense early. South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori shows he is an absolute freak of an athlete, and many around the league believe he is a first-round lock. The Falcons would form one of the most lethal safety duos in football, with Jessie Bates III, and with Justin Simmons set to become a free agent, they certainly have a need at the spot."

- New A to Z Sports Mock Draft

South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori is the player I quickly learned in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine that the league is much higher on than many in the NFL Draft community are. Multiple NFL teams view him as the top safety in the class, and his display of athleticism on the field at the combine only added to it. He is an impressive individual and would certainly elevate the Falcons defense. 

Pairing Emmanwori with Jessie Bates would form one of the most exciting safety duos in the NFL. Both players have the ability to play either safety spot, which would offer some tremendous creativity for Raheem Morris and the Falcons' defensive staff. And having two players with next-level ball skills would cause quite a headache for opposing offenses. There are some positions on defense that the Falcons have more significant needs at than safety. A couple are edge rushers and linebackers. But if Emmanwori is still on the board when they get on the clock, I think his level of skill and potential at the pro level would be hard to pass on.