High draft pick’s role in Falcons new-look defense is very concerning

The Falcons haven’t had much success drafting pass rushers, but the hope is that will change under Raheem Morris.

The new head coach in Atlanta had a lot of success with rookie pass rushers in Los Angeles as the Rams defensive coordinator. Kobie Turner (9.0) and Byron Young (8.0) led the Rams defense in sacks a season ago as rookies, and the Falcons have several candidates that can assume similar roles.

Bralen Trice logged more pressures than any pass rusher in college football a year ago and will surely have an opportunity to assume a significant role. Brandon Dorlus is someone who could become a household name. Zach Harrison came on strong last year. DeAngelo Malone hasn’t had many opportunities, but a new defense could benefit him. The Falcons also traded up for Ruke Orhorhoro, a rookie second-round pick.

However, those pass rushers’ clocks may not be ticking quite like Arnold Ebiketie’s. The Falcons’ 2022 second-round pick was quiet during his rookie year, logging only 2.5 sacks but came on strong last year with six sacks. He was much more efficient as well in terms of pressures to snaps, but Falcons fans may not see a large uptick in his snaps under Raheem Morris.

According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Ebiketie hasn’t been on the field much during training camp, “mostly has practiced as a rotational pass rusher with the second-team defense.”

Terry Fontenot has not had a lot of success drafting. Let’s just call a spade a spade. The 2021 draft class, his first, has mostly dissipated, and it looks like only two will see second contracts. The 2022 class has already started to fracture, with Desmond Ridder being shipped to Arizona this offseason.

Arnold Ebiketie isn’t only a highly drafted player that the Falcons invested a second-round pick in, but he’s yet another pass rusher that Atlanta is hoping can become a mainstay for a defense that has struggled for years to put together a consistent pass rush.

It would be disappointing if he doesn’t take on a significant role under Raheem Morris this year.

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Photographer: John Byrum/Icon Sportswire