Scouts and analysts claimed former Oklahoma star safety Billy Bowman Jr. was too small to succeed in the NFL, but just a few months after slipping in the 2025 NFL Draft because of his size, Bowman is already a Week 1 starter for the Atlanta Falcons as a rookie.
After Bowman got first-team reps throughout training camp, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris announced during a press conference on Thursday that Bowman will start at nickel back in the Falcons' season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 7.