NFL Mock Draft season is in full swing, and the Falcons are set to have another crack at a blue chip prospect. In the new regime’s two drafts, the team has held the No. 4 and No. 8 overall picks. As it stands right now with two games left to play, the Falcons currently hold the No. 6 pick, but that could fluctuate depending on how the club’s final two contests shake out. If Atlanta loses both, they could end up 5-12 with the No. 2 overall pick; win both, finish with a 7-10 record and the No. 13 overall pick. In this week’s NFL Mock Draft, national outlets have the Falcons bolstering the defense.
Draft Network iDL Jalen Carter, Georgia
“This is a great value pick for the Falcons, as they get one of the two best players in the draft despite picking outside of the top five. Jalen Carter is a pure disruptor. Strength, body control, flexibility… Carter has it all. Stick him alongside Grady Jarrett and prosper.”
Somehow, someway Jalen Carter falls all the way to the Falcons in the Draft Network’s mock. The Colts take cornerback Christian Gonzelez while three quarterbacks and Will Anderson round out the first five selections. This would be a dream scenario for Falcons fans, and honestly, nobody should expect this to happen. From what I’ve seen, Carter is a top-three overall player in this draft, regardless of position. It would finally give Grady Jarrett a talented running mate along the interior; this would be a home run.
PFF EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
“Verse is one of my favorite players in this class. Previously at FCS Albany, Verse transformed his body during the COVID-impacted season and gained 40 pounds, jumping from 210 as a redshirt freshman to 250 as a junior. He was named an all-conference player that season before transferring to Florida State. In his lone season in the FBS, he not only didn’t look overwhelmed, but he also dominated when healthy. He looks and feels like a total package edge rusher.”
Verse has been a fast riser among national mock pundits. He’s a freak of nature athletically and looks like the complete package for an edge defender. The Falcons pass on CJ Stroud, Bryan Bresee, and Tyree Wilson in favor of Verse. I don’t think there’s a bad direction PFF could’ve gone in that scenario. All four of those prospects are good fits for the Falcons, though the jury is still out on Stroud. Some folks have him going in the top three, while others have him falling closer to ten.
CBS EDGE Myles Murphy, Clemson
“The Falcons have to improve the pass rush, and while Murphy isn’t a finished product, you can’t teach his size, length and movement skills.”
Murphy is someone that has been regularly mocked to the Falcons for obvious reasons. The defense in Atlanta stinks, particularly the pass rushing unit. Every single one of these prospects will bolster that facet of the team. Murphy is a mountain of a human being, and Dane Brugler has stated before that he’ll garner similar interest that Travon Walker did for his special combination of size and speed. Sign me up.
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It doesn’t really matter where the Falcons go in these scenarios. The roster needs improving across the board; no single position group is untouchable. With more than enough cap space to improve a lot of those areas of concern through free agency, the draft will once again be predicated on the best player available.
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Photographer: John Byrum/Icon SportswireÂ
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