Billy Bowman Jr.

Falcons selected Oklahoma S Billy Bowman Jr. with the No. 118 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

A four-year starter and defensive spark plug at Oklahoma, Bowman Jr. brings dynamic ball production and plus instincts to the 2025 safety class. A twitchy, versatile field safety in Zac Alley’s 4-2-5 scheme, Bowman logged snaps all over the back end—box, nickel, and deep—and racked up 11 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. His 2023 campaign (6 INTs, 63 tackles) landed him first-team All-Big 12 honors and showcased his elite reaction skills and nose for the football. Bowman tested well athletically (4.42 forty, 35.5-inch vert), but his size (5’10”, 192 lbs, 28.5-inch arms) is a limiting factor. He diagnoses quickly and plays fast, but his lack of play strength shows when tackling bigger targets or disengaging from blocks. He’s more of a drag-down finisher than a thumper, and his open-field tackling has been inconsistent throughout his career. Still, Bowman’s blend of football IQ, fluid hips, and versatility is rare. He can cover the slot, rotate post-snap, or disguise coverage from two-high shells. Though he may never be a box enforcer, he brings disruptive, turnover-hungry energy to the backend. He’s an immediate contributor on special teams and sub-packages, with starting upside in a split-safety system.