NFL DRAFT: Notre Dame Safety Xavier Watts picked by the Atlanta Falcons

An absolute steal

In the 3rd round with 96th overall pick of the NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Notre Dame Safety, Xavier Watts.

When Xavier Watts arrived at Notre Dame in 2020, it was supposed to be to play on offense at the wide receiver position. What we saw right away was a toughness on special teams normally reserved for defensive players — and that’s what we got.

After some years of trying to find a home on the team, Watts finally landed at safety in 2022. In 2023, he exploded on the national scene with a 7 interception year on his way of becoming an All-American and the Nagurski Award winner as the best defensive player in college football.

There was no let up with Watts in 2024 as he pulled down 6 interceptions on the season which made him the FBS leader in interceptions over the two year time period. One of those interceptions was a 100 yard return for touchdown. Watts earned another All-American title.

He will forever be known as a Trojan Killer for his two incredible performances in Notre Dame’s biggest rivalry game.

Despite his incredible production on the field, Watts has continually been overlooked by national media members. They continued to focus on what a player was ranked as coming out of high school while Watts continued to kick ass game in and game out.

The draft was another example of being overlooked, and in the end, he is one of the best steals of the event.

Have yourself a hell of a career X.

From the ND press release:

Xavier Watts Selected 96th Overall In NFL Draft By Atlanta

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Xavier Watts was selected in the third round with the 96th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. The 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner joins former Irish players JD Bertrand and Khalid Kareem in Atlanta, and he is the second player drafted in two years by the Falcons (Bertrand). Watts is the 13th Notre Dame player all-time to be drafted by Atlanta.

With Watts’ selection and teammate Benjamin Morrison’s selection in the second round, Notre Dame is one of just two programs to have two defensive backs selected in the first 100 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft (joining Texas). The two team captains are Notre Dame’s first pair of defensive backs selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft since 1994 (Jeff Burris and Willie Clark).

One of the most decorated Notre Dame football players in program history, Watts won the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Trophy recognizing the best defensive player in college football, and is a two-time consensus All-American.

Watts became one of just 17 Irish players all-time to be a two-time consensus honoree, and the first to do so since 1993. He was one of two repeat consensus All-Americans across FBS in 2024, joining Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

A 2024 Team Captain, Watts was named a 2024 First-Team All-American for the second-consecutive season by the Associated Press, Walter Camp, The Sporting News and the AFCA, earning second-team honors from the FWAA in 2024.

Watts was also named a First-Team All-American by The Athletic, USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Focus and Bleacher Report. Watts was named a First-Team Midseason All-American by Associated Press, The Sporting News, PFF, Athlon Sports, The Athletic and CBS Sports.

Watts earned Notre Dame’s program Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, and he was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Bednarik Award, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Over his career, Watts totaled 13 interceptions, the most by a Notre Dame player since 1996. His 13 interceptions over the last two seasons were the most by any FBS player during that span; the next closest players had nine.

Watts started his 33rd consecutive game at the CFP National Championship, the second-most for an Irish safety in program history (Jalen Elliott, 39 from 2017-19) and the 11th-most for any defensive player in Notre Dame history.He ranked ninth among active FBS players in consecutive starts in the secondary with 33.

In 2024, Watts ranked second in the nation in total interceptions (6). Notre Dame gained 33 turnovers this past season (first in the nation). Watts was responsible for seven of them (six interceptions, one fumble recovery).

In 2023, Watts was named a Unanimous All-American and led the nation with seven interceptions, averaging an interception every other game.