PFF mock draft has Falcons taking a WR in the first round

Everyone expects the Falcons to take a defensive player with their first-round pick, which would be the first time Terry Fontenot has done so since taking over in Atlanta.

The defense needs all of his attention. Fontenot needs to add multiple starters in the secondary and in the trenches, but more than just bodies, getting a bonafide star pass rusher should be the GM’s priority. Of course, those kind of guys don’t just grow on trees, so it’s unfair to expect the Falcons to acquire one.

That won’t ease the outcry from the fan base, though. Simply put, the Falcons have to manufacture a pass rush somehow, and it’ll likely come in the form of a committee approach.

I say it all the time, but it’s true. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. The Falcons aren’t going to all of a sudden produce a top pass rushing unit. It takes time, with many pieces. Coverage and pressure are the two factors to consider, which means the Falcons can still improve the pass rush by improving their coverage.

All of this is to say there are a number of ways the Falcons can go in April’s draft, but one of those ways isn’t another pass catcher, which is seemingly becoming an increasingly popular choice for mock drafters to separate themselves.

The latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus has the Falcons drafting Luther Burden out of Missouri.

“With Michael Penix Jr. set to take over as the starter in 2025, surrounding him with more offensive firepower would be a smart way to set him up for early success.

Luther Burden is a natural playmaker out of the slot, excelling with the ball in his hands. Over the past two seasons, he has ranked in the 87th percentile in yards after catch per reception, showcasing his dynamic ability in the open field. Pairing Burden with Darnell Mooney and Drake London, who is coming off his best season as a pro, would give Penix one of the most talented receiving corps in the NFL.”

Listen, I would be as giddy as any Falcons fan to see Burden in an offense with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Darnell Mooney, but can we get serious for a second?

If Terry Fontenot doesn’t draft a defender, regardless of his best player available sham, there will be questions that will need to be answered. Atlanta media isn’t New York, but they’ll pepper Fontenot at the podium, and rightfully so.

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