Falcons Draft Roundtable: Dissecting potential defensive diamonds

After years of making splashes to get skill position players and recently going all-out to sign the top quarterback on the market, all eyes are set on who Atlanta can add to an intriguing defense.

The long-awaited week is here as the stage is set for the Falcons to maximize another great opportunity to add talent and build potential franchise cornerstones. A top-ten pick always has to be cherished, especially for a team that will likely go in the opposite direction of most other franchises. This is expected to be an offensive-heavy first round where many top prospects are offensive players.

That aligns nicely for Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris, who will be looking to pinpoint which defensive prospects can grow into All-Pro caliber players. There are plenty of options with the eighth overall pick. That includes the possibility of trading down with a team like Minnesota and Denver searching for their future franchise quarterback. As exciting as it is to select arguably the top prospect at their respective position to address a critical need, the front office must be aware of all options and allow themselves the flexibility to capitalize on an ultra-aggressive team preparing to select a quarterback and ready to trade multiple picks.

Kevin Knight and William McFadden join me for this roundtable. In a change of format from previous editions, I will be asking them draft questions and looking for their analysis of the top prospects who Atlanta could draft. They are the top two draft gurus on staff and have been grinding tape for months. It’s time for the masterminds to dish out their analysis.

If the Falcons decide to select an edge rusher with the eighth pick, do they immediately draft Dallas Turner or should they consider other options?

Kevin Knight: I do think the Falcons will ultimately select Dallas Turner if they pick at eight, although a trade down feels very possible. More possible than in any previous year of Fontenot’s tenure. I think they should also consider Laiatu Latu, whose technical expertise gives him a much higher floor and a quicker pathway to consistent production that fits well with their two or three-year timeline with Kirk Cousins.

I believe they’ll ultimately go with Turner because he simply fits their archetype the best. Atlanta has consistently prioritized length under Fontenot, with both Dean Pees and Ryan Nielsen. I can’t imagine that will change under Jimmy Lake. Turner has the best length of all the top edge rushers with over 34” arms. His prowess and ability in coverage also seem to fit well with Morris and Lake’s scheme, which frequently dropped an edge rusher into playing zone.

Lorenzo Carter can definitely do that too, but it’s a unique trait in this draft class that only Turner possesses. Turner needs more development than either Latu or Verse, however, so fans should expect a quieter start to his career. The upside is that Turner has elite potential and could easily become the best of the bunch.

William McFadden: Kevin and I have not been shy in stating our preference for Laiatu Latu over Turner or Jared Verse, but that has more to do with his potential to make an impact early in his career. I view Latu as a player who can fill multiple roles from day one, given how UCLA moved him all over their defensive front, and his technical prowess should translate.

However, are we overthinking this? After months of talking about Turner for this team, did people get bored? He’s exceptionally explosive with the speed and length to challenge any tackle in the league. If Turner reaches his ceiling, I expect him to be the best pass rusher in this class. This could all come down to what the Falcons are looking to add in the draft, a proficient technician who plays through the whistle or a premier athlete with all the tools to become a game-changer. For me, it’s still Latu, but I’ve been wrong before.

How much would Quinyon Mitchell elevate the defense? Would selecting him raise concerns about how the front office views A.J. Terrell?

Kevin Knight: Quinyon Mitchell is the top cornerback in this class to me. He should be viewed as an eventual NFL CB1. Getting to play across from Terrell as a CB2 to start his career is perfect and should lead to a good rookie season. His presence could make Atlanta’s coverage elite, provided the team can get the second safety spot sorted.

I don’t believe his addition would reflect poorly on Terrell, but it would give the Falcons plenty of flexibility. If Mitchell hits the ground running, the team has choices. They could extend Terrell and have an elite CB duo locked up for the next 4 years. Or, they could tag and trade Terrell next offseason to potentially recoup a significant draft pick and enormous cap savings.

Given that Atlanta will be entering a more difficult period with the salary cap over the next few years, this type of flexibility could be very valuable. It’s also why the team is likely to take a CB high even if it’s not in the first round.

William McFadden: There are a few corners I’d gladly welcome to this roster. Mitchell is certainly among them, but Terrion Arnold and Cooper DeJean would also get strong consideration from me. My biggest hesitation with Mitchell was the level of competition he faced at Tulane. Watching his tape can be extremely boring, at times because teams either didn’t challenge him or they were laughably overmatched when they did. He was PFF’s top-graded corner for a reason, because he’s poised and has a great nose for the ball.

However, Arnold is battle-tested against the very best and reminds me a lot of Devon Witherspoon. DeJean is an extremely versatile and smooth player who would allow the Falcons to run a very diverse defense on the back end, which appears to be the goal. As for Terrell, I still think negotiations could pick up greatly once training camp begins. This pick could be more about playing to the coaching staff’s strengths and giving the Falcons a formidable secondary. It does have to be mentioned that all is quiet on the Terrell front.

What is one position outside of edge rusher that the Falcons should focus on addressing in the early rounds?

Kevin Knight: Outside of edge rusher and corner, the Falcons have three big needs: another long-term receiver, a safety opposite Jessie Bates III, and interior defensive line depth. The wide receiver room is better than 2023, but it’s an injury away from disaster. This is a deep class and Atlanta should absolutely add someone on Day 2 (and probably on Day 3 as well). Getting a long-term partner for Bates on a rookie contract is crucial. It could be Hellams if he continues to grow and the team restricts his usage to the box, but getting a coverage-focused counterpart is important.

The interior defensive line is fine…for now. Tough decisions will have to be made, potentially as early as 2025, on who to keep between Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata. The Falcons would be wise to add a developmental interior pass rusher in this draft to give the team more options going forward.

William McFadden: Cornerback is number two on my list by a fairly large margin, but I’ll give one that not many people have discussed: Offensive tackle. This could be Kaleb McGary’s final season with the Falcons, and Jake Matthews won’t be around forever, either. Given how good the offensive tackles are in this class, there’s a chance that a high-caliber player slips into the second round. Of all the top-tier positions in this draft – receiver, corner, and tackle, I do think it’s likely that the run on offensive tackles happens in the first round. But if it doesn’t, I’d be very interested in seeing the Falcons target one that is left.

Which prospect, considered a day-three pick, could be a difference-maker in Atlanta?

Kevin Knight: I’ll give one on offense and one on defense. On offense, I simply love wide receiver Malik Washington out of Oregon State. He’s small, but he’s so good at what he does. Washington can be an effective slot starter in the NFL with his hands, contact balance, and elusiveness.

On defense, I’m intrigued by Houston Christian edge rusher Jalyx Hunt. A former safety, Hunt has the coverage chops that this regime seems to covet on the edge and has outstanding physical traits. He’s raw and needs to continue bulking up, but Hunt has a starter ceiling on day three. The coaching staff may need to play him on special teams for his first year.

William McFadden: I like the way Colorado State edge rusher Mohamed Kamara plays. On day three, teams are often looking for impact special teams players and prospects who can fill marginal roles with upside. Kamara definitely fits that bill. He was a team captain as a senior and led the Mountain West with 13 sacks. More importantly, Kamara brought the juice on every snap and quickly created panic in the linemen he faced.

Kamara would have an immediate impact on special teams, particularly in kickoff coverage where his history as a pass rusher would benefit him. Limited overall size and length are the reasons why he’ll likely slip to day three, but I’d much rather bet on a player who shows effort and leadership skills than a player with immense physical gifts but lacking in the intangibles.