DISCLAIMER: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons’ football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
Editor’s Note: We’ll track prospects the Falcons are linked to at No. 8 overall and beyond in mock drafts from respected analysts in this Mock Draft Roundup series, which will run through the 2024 NFL Draft.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — This is the ninth edition of this roundup, and it’s also the first one where analysts projected the Falcons to only pick an edge rusher in the first round.
Not only that, just two names are mentioned — FSU’s Jared Verse and Alabama’s Dallas Turner. Whether that’s at No. 8 overall, or if experts have Atlanta potentially trading down, these two rushers are synonymous with the Falcons’ first-round pick this week.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot was asked extensively about drafting an edge rusher at the Annual League Meeting this week. Fontenot spoke on their drafting philosophy of improving the team.
“When you look at the history of drafts you can look at them a lot of times like, ‘OK we really need a pressure player so make sure that you get that,'” Fontenot said. “But we can look back at the drafts where someone reached on a pressure player and left some really good football players on the board at other positions.”
Regardless of what decision the Falcons make in less than a month’s time when the draft arrives, this roundup’s consensus points to pressure.
Take a closer look at the latest projections:
Ryan Wilson, CBS
- Date:March 21
- Falcons pick: 8 overall
- Selection:EDGE Jared Verse, Florida State
Wilson’s analysis: “The Falcons now have Rondale Moore and Darnell Mooney on the roster, reducing the likelihood of Rome Odunze. Instead, they beef up the pass rushers with Jared Verse.”
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