The Atlanta Falcons will be on the clock in a couple of weeks with the 15th pick in the draft. Most expect them to come away with a defender, but there has been smoke recently suggesting the Falcons could also be in the market for a franchise offensive tackle.
Fans would likely be beside themselves if the Falcons went offense again in the first round. Since Terry Fontenot took over the team in 2021, they have drafted an offensive player in the first round of each of his four drafts. Because of that, the offense is in a pretty good spot looking ahead to the 2025 season. The defense, on the other hand, has far more questions than answers.
With that being said, right tackle is one of the team’s single biggest long-term needs. Kaleb McGary is entering the final year of his contract, and while he’s been serviceable, the thought of him protecting Michael Penix Jr.’s blindside for the next decade should worry everybody in Flowery Branch. I would argue right tackle is the second-most important position on the entire team, ahead of pass rusher. So finding a franchise guy that can protect Penix should not be viewed negatively.
However, it’s still most likely that Atlanta looks to the defensive side of the ball, and in PFF’s latest mock draft, they land a dream prospect — cornerback Will Johnson out of Michigan.
A few months ago, Will Johnson was a consensus top 10 pick in this year’s draft. For whatever reason, his stock has dipped a little as the event approaches. Whether that’s the reality on draft day remains to be seen, but if Johnson is available at pick 15, he’ll probably be the best player available at a position of dire need for the Falcons.
A.J. Terrell is one of the league’s best cornerbacks, but he hasn’t had a true running mate since he was drafted in 2020. The Falcons brought Mike Hughes back on a three-year contract earlier this offseason. He was one of the few overachievers on the defense last season, but Atlanta could stand to upgrade, and Johnson would be a perfect schematic fit for the zone heavy scheme the Falcons like to run.
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Photo: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire
