The 2024 NFL Draft is approaching as teams will soon begin gathering in Detroit for the three-day extravaganza between Thursday, April 25th and Saturday, April 27th. There will be plenty of expectations, surprises, and drama to go around at the event. Most NFL fans will pay attention to the first round at least, where the highest-rated prospects are often the primary source of scrutiny & intrigue surrounding the event.
It’s important for fans to realize though that the draft is a seven-round experience, and although the first round is important, talent can be found in the other rounds. This is great news for the Atlanta Falcons, who are clearly more than just a “player away” from contention after a disappointing season that ended with a 7-10 record. Yes, the team filled a massive hole at QB with the addition of Kirk Cousins, but the roster is still littered with holes at some important positions heading into the draft. Defensive line, wide receiver, and cornerback are amongst the team’s roster needs.
Defensive Line
Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata, and Arnold Ebiketie lead the Falcons defensive line. Jarrett and Onyemata are great, but they are getting older, and while Ebiketie is a young player who has shown flashes, he hasn’t proven himself in the league just yet. Kentavius Street, Ta’Quan Graham, and Zach Harrison are role players in the unit, but there just isn’t enough there for Raheem Morris to build this defense around.
Defensive end is an obvious need for the team as the pass rush has been a big issue. Prospects like Alabama’s Dallas Turner, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, and Florida State’s Jared Verse are amongst the highest-rated players available at that position in this draft.
Getting younger at defensive tackle should also be a priority for the team this year. Texas’ Byron Murphy II, Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton, and Florida State’s Braden Fiske headline a defensive tackle group that is top-heavy compared to other draft classes.
Wide Receiver
Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Rondale Moore lead the Falcons receiver unit. London has the potential to be a superstar, playing with a great QB for the first time. Mooney is a solid No. 3 receiver, but he feels miscast as a No. 2 receiver, and while Moore has shown flashes he has yet to clear 500 yards in any of his three seasons. This means that the team should be looking for a No. 2 receiver in this draft class.
Wide receiver is a stacked position in the NFL Draft, and there are three receivers that stand out from the rest of the class as Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr, LSU’s Malik Nabors, and Washington’s Rome Odunze are all potential top-10 draft picks. Georgia’s Ladd McConkey, Alabama’s Jermaine Burton, and Florida State’s Keon Coleman are projected second-round picks who could also interest the Falcons.
Cornerback
AJ Terrell, Dee Alford, and Clark Phillips III headline the Falcons cornerback room. Terrell is entering the last year of his contract, and the team will try to re-sign him. Alford and Phillips are young players who are still playing on their rookie contracts. The team recently signed veteran Antonio Hamilton to provide quality depth at CB.
How will the Falcons go about determining the future at their cornerback position? They have some young corners on the roster whose contracts are set to expire soon. Their replacements could come in the NFL Draft, as the position remains unsettled. Alabama CBs Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, along with Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, are the featured players in a cornerback class that has solid depth within.
Honorable mentions
Center and quarterback (of the future) are other options for the Falcons in the draft. Drew Dalman has been just okay at center, and it might be time to make an upgrade. Falcons fans will remember the huge impact that the Alex Mack signing made back in 2016 as he was the anchor of the offensive line during the team’s Super Bowl run.
Kirk Cousins is under contract for four seasons; however, the contract is essentially a two-year deal and he will be a 36-year old player coming off a torn Achilles in 2024. It’s notable that the Falcons recently sent a sizable contingent of their leadership to watch a private workout of former Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. in Washington.
The Sports Beacon 