Mel Kiper has Alabama EDGE going to Falcons in latest mock draft

Much of the Falcons offseason is going to revolve around their search for a new quarterback.

Many fans hope the answer comes through a trade up the draft board to land one of the top signal caller prospects in Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels.

The reality is the Falcons might not have the opportunity because it takes two to tango. It seems to me that the Bears, Commanders, and Patriots will take one of those three quarterbacks.

If that’s the case, the Falcons have to pivot. Trading for Justin Fields, signing Kirk Cousins in free agency, or some other backup plan will soon be at the forefront of Atlanta’s offseason.

However, a silver lining of missing out on a quarterback in the draft is landing a premier blue chip prospect. The Falcons could easily land one of the five best players in the class because of the run of quarterbacks.

Mel Kiper has Atlanta drafting the top defender in the draft, selecting Alabama edge defender Dallas Turner with the No. 8 pick. 

8. Atlanta Falcons

Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama

The Falcons are the most interesting team this offseason with regard to the quarterback position. The decision will define new coach Raheem Morris‘ tenure, because the franchise has the skill-position talent to immediately compete in the NFC South. The problem here is I’m not ready to move J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) into the top 10, so Atlanta would either have to trade up — sacrificing much-needed draft capital — or reach a little bit for McCarthy or Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), who has a second-round grade in my rankings. This team might be better served using a significant chunk of its cap space on Kirk Cousins.

So I’ll stick with the top edge rusher in the class to the Falcons, who ranked 32nd in pass rush win rate (30.9%) last season. Turner had 10 sacks last season, taking his game to a new level as the Crimson Tide’s top defender. He has a really high ceiling.

Dallas Turner posted 8.5 sacks and 10 total tackles for loss as a freshman, but his production dipped a bit as a sophomore.

Turner followed it up with 10 sacks, 14.5 total tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in a 2023 campaign that earned him First-Team All-American and All-SEC honors.

For a team like the Falcons, who have struggled to find a consistent edge presence, Dallas Turner could be the answer.

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Photographer: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire