In his tenure as Falcons GM, Terry Fontenot has not drafted a defender in the first round, but the overwhelming expectation is that will change during this cycle.
Whether it’s the front seven or the secondary, the Falcons need to add a premier draft pick to that side of the ball. Most fans want it to be a defender that can rush the passer, with a portion of them wanting that prospect to be from their beloved Georgia program.
It’s hard to argue with Bulldogs fans too. Seemingly every defender Kirby Smart sends to the league in the first round has become an impactful player at the NFL level, which has obviously been difficult for Falcons (and Georgia) fans to see.
However, that changes in the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Matt Miller, as the Falcons finally dip into Athens, taking Mykel Williams with the 15th pick.
“The Falcons had only 31 sacks in 2024, the second fewest in the NFL. That has to change in Raheem Morris’ second season as the coach. Williams is right in the team’s backyard at Georgia and flashes the power, speed and production that generally excites front offices.
Georgia’s two games against Texas this past season showcased Williams at his best, as he registered four combined sacks in those matchups. But he had only one sack in the remaining nine games he played in. Williams is an upside player who could be a double-digit sack-getter with some development.”
Williams is a Georgia native and led the Bulldogs in sacks as a freshman. Injuries unfortunately limited him this past season, but his play in Mercedes-Benz Stadium should excite Falcons fans. In the SEC Championship game against Texas, Williams was unstoppable, notching 2.0 sacks against the Longhorns.
In the second round, Miller has the Falcons trying to find A.J. Terrell’s long-term running mate in Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
“A.J. Terrell has been great for the Falcons, but teams can avoid him if there’s not a reliable corner on the other side. Morrison had first-round grades before he suffered a hip injury in October and had nine interceptions combined in 2022-23.”
Similar to Williams, Morrison’s 2024 campaign was cut short due to an injury, but he was still excellent when he was on the field. Taking nearly 500 snaps across the last two seasons, the Irish defender was targeted 87 times, allowing just 39 receptions while recording four interceptions and forcing 17 incompletions, per PFF.
I’d argue these are the two biggest roster needs at this point in the offseason. If the Falcons can get Day 1 starters at both corner and on the edge this offseason, they’ll be able to compete much quicker than initially anticipated.
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Photographer: John Adams/Icon Sportswire
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