The Falcons filled their biggest holes through the NFL Draft.

Coming into the offseason, the pass rush and secondary needed to be bolstered. With four of their five picks, Atlanta addressed those areas. Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. were taken on Day 1, while Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. went on Days 2 and 3.

All four could be starters in Jeff Ulbrich’s defense when Week 1 arrives, but there are still holes. I’d argue another starting-caliber cornerback takes the cake, and perhaps another center to compete with Ryan Nuezil; however, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz believes it’s the defensive line.

“Atlanta has three clear starters for its 3-4 scheme, but how much should the Falcons trust those players? Atlanta ranked 26th in run stop win rate last season.

Now, the Falcons are replacing Grady Jarrett with Morgan Fox, who turns 31 in September. David Onyemata wasn’t impressive last season and turns 33 in November. The team is counting on 2024 second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro, the third starter, to step up at nose tackle, but he played only 13.3% of Atlanta’s defensive snaps as a rookie. And third-year player Zach Harrison — who should be a backup — hasn’t lived up to his potential yet. This group also struggles rushing the passer, as it combined for 7.5 sacks a year ago.”

The defensive line needs an interior presence that can be a menace in the run game. David Onyemata, who struggled at times last year, is the only player on Atlanta’s interior with proven high-end play on his resumé.

Second-year defenders Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus have the skill set to be impactful, but they haven’t played much at all. Zach Harrison’s role has shifted every year since the Falcons drafted him. Morgan Fox is a better pass rusher than run stopper, and nobody should expect Ta’Quon Graham and Kentavius Street to be anything more than reserve-caliber pieces.

The good news is that run-stuffing interior defenders aren’t exactly hard to find. I joke, but the Falcons really just need a human the size of a small car to clog up the middle of the line. The only guy on the roster who could potentially fill that void is LaCale London. Granted, he’s good in this role, and if he’s truly bulked up (listed at 330 pounds), that makes me feel much better, but what’s the harm in going to the local pub and grabbing another 315+ pound bouncer to fill some run lanes?

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Photographer: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire