Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft first round target now a lock after first day of free agency tampering period
Kirk Cousins is now the Atlanta Falcons franchise quarterback after he agreed to terms on a massive deal set to become official Wednesday. That changes everything for the team's outlook in 2024 and takes any pressure the team may have felt to trade up in the NFL Draft for their future quarterback. This now makes their […]
Kirk Cousins is now the Atlanta Falcons franchise quarterback after he agreed to terms on a massive deal set to become official Wednesday. That changes everything for the team's outlook in 2024 and takes any pressure the team may have felt to trade up in the NFL Draft for their future quarterback. This now makes their first round prospect target is now a lock.
Recent large sample mock draft data mixed with a team needs assessment had already made the Falcons top two options in the NFL Draft quite clear within the last week. If they didn't address the quarterback situation via free agency they would either be selecting their quarterback of the future or going after an elite edge rusher.
Now that Kirk Cousins has signed his massive deal it's time to get the elite edge rusher that will be the cornerstone of their defense for years to come.
If you're unfamiliar with how dire the need at edge is for the Falcons they didn't have a single player log more than seven sacks last year, and that was Grady Jarrett, an interior defensive lineman. And yes, sacks aren't always the most predictive stat, but you know what it is? Pressure rate. The Falcons didn't have a single edge defender log a pressure rate over 9% last year. Essentially they failed to have a top 90 edge rusher in the league in 2023.
Even if edge rusher is a "lock" first round position for the Falcons, which player(s) will they be picking? Based on the last 100+ mock drafts over the last month there's a clear best bet. And if you would like to see a break down of the latest mock data you can find that in this thread I posted here:
Dallas Turner, EDGE Alabama
There is no better combination of youth, athletic upside, and proven production in this edge defender class than Dallas Turner.
He posted a 99th percentile A to Z Sports Athletic Composite Score at the NFL Combine, proving he's one of the most impressive athletes in NFL history at his position. And he did this less than a month after turning 21 years old. He could still physically develop into an even freakier athlete in the coming years.
NFL Combine winners among Defensive Line and Edge prospects feature some surprising sleepers
NFL Combine winners for DL
When you mix the youth and athletic upside with his pass rush pressure rate near 20% last fall and his double digit sacks you get one of the most productive edge rushers in the nation. Dallas Turner has become the absolute "chalk" pick for the Falcons over the last three weeks via the mock drafts and for good reason.
Other Edge Prospects to Target
The only other two edge prospects the Falcons might consider in round one are Jared Verse (Florida State) and Laiatu Latu (UCLA). Verse posted a 95th percentile Speed Score and Burst Score at the NFL Combine even though he added significant weight this past season. Latu isn't quite that level of athlete, but he pressured opposing quarterbacks at a higher rate than any edge rusher in the class thanks to his vast array of pass rush moves.
Either one would be more than a nice consolation prize if Dallas Turner ends up going before the Falcons pick in the eight slot. However, Turner is still probably the "lock" for now and should be the fan favorite as the 2024 NFL Draft approaches.
Be looking for more on the Falcons free agency signings and more in the coming days and weeks. Also, in case you missed it, check out the Winners and Losers from the NFL Combine in the A to Z Film Room breakdown video below.
