The Perfect Draft for the Atlanta Falcons

It’s finally draft week and I couldn’t be more excited to see what each NFL franchise does during the 2020 NFL draft. The draft can make or break a team, If you draft well and get star-level production from a player or players on a rookie contract, you’ll probably be very successful. If not, don’t be surprised to see your franchise struggle. I am a huge Falcons fan and I think we have a great opportunity to improve our roster during this year’s draft. The 2020 draft class is deep and loaded with talent even in the later rounds. Today I will be outlining what I believe would be the perfect draft for my Atlanta Falcons.

Here’s my philosophy going into this; we were a bottom three team in sacks, QB knockdowns, and QB pressures so we need to get an edge rusher or a defensive tackle who can provide pass-rushing ability. We were also middle of the pack against the run, so it’d be awesome if the defensive linemen we draft can help stop the run as well. Besides defensive lineman, we also have a ton of needs in our secondary. Right now Isaiah Oliver and Kendall Sheffield are our starting corners which is not very good, to say the least. The cornerback group in this year’s class is deep, so we can find starting quality corners later in the draft. Defense is my primary focus, but I wouldn’t mind getting a long term option at running back and possibly a wide receiver to be our WR no. 3. There have been a ton of rumors that the Falcons might trade up into the top ten, so I’m going to go over what I would do in every possible situation whether we trade into the top five or stay pat at sixteen. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

*I’m using https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/ for this to see who they have available in the later rounds to make this somewhat realistic

Scenario 1: The Falcons trade with the Lions for the third overall pick

Trade Information: The Falcons trade the 16th pick, a 2021 first-round pick, and two 2020 fourth-round picks to the Lions for the third overall pick

If the Falcons trade up into the top five, we’re most likely going after Jeff Okudah or Isaiah Simmons. We would have to get the third pick if we wanted either of those players. I know that’s a lot to give up, but you gotta do what you gotta do to get a star player like Okudah or Simmons.

I honestly don’t think you can’t go wrong with either player, but corner is such a big need and for a team that doesn’t blitz that often, we need corners who can excel in man coverage. Okudah is the best corner in the draft and is amazing in man coverage. He’s also great in zone coverage and would be awesome here in Atlanta. I’d go with Okudah here.

We still have a second and third-round pick in this scenario, and in the second round, I’m going to select Alabama edge rusher, Terrell Lewis, to give us a speed rusher with incredible physical traits so we can rush the passer. In the third round we can get Justin Madibuike or Jordan Elliot to be our DT #2, but California safety, Ashtyn Davis, is available and he is too good to pass up here. Davis is a very good free safety with elite speed and fluid hips which will allow him to keep anybody from beating our defense over the top. If necessary we can put him in the box or maybe even put him at corner. He hasn’t played corner before, but he has the physical traits to do it. The website skipped over our sixth-round pick so I guess we’re done with this scenario.

1st Round: Jeff Okudah, Cornerback, Ohio State 2nd Round: Terrell Lewis, Edge Rusher, Alabama 3rd Round: Ashtyn Davis, Safety, California

Scenario Two: The Falcons trade with the Jaguars for the 9th pick

Trade Information: The Falcons trade the 16th pick, their two fourth-round picks, and a 2021 third-round pick to the Jaguars for the 9th pick

The Falcons trade up into the top ten to get Javon Kinlaw, a defensive tackle from South Carolina. Kinlaw has unreal strength and power which is obvious when you watch him bulldoze offensive lineman like it’s no big deal. He has incredible potential as a pass-rushing defensive tackle and will have an immediate impact on our team.

Terrell Lewis is available once again in the second round and I cannot pass up the chance to pair Kinlaw with another physical freak like Lewis. Our pass rush is about to be deadly. I know this is repetitive, but I’m taking Ashtyn Davis in the third round again. There isn’t any defensive back available at this point that’s worth taking over Davis in my eyes so I’m drafting him. 1st Round: Javon Kinlaw, Defensive Tackle, South Carolina 2nd Round: Terrell Lewis, Edge Rusher, Alabama 3rd Rounder: Ashtyn Davis, Safety, California

Scenario Three: The Falcons don’t trade up

I don’t expect us to stay at 16, but we can still have a very good draft even if we don’t move.

C.J Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson are both available at 16, but I’m going a totally different route. I’m drafting Penn State edge rusher, Yetur Gross-Matos. You might think I’m insane, but trust me, I know what I’m doing. Pass rush is more valuable than pass coverage in my opinion, so I’m taking an edge rusher over a corner at 16. Not to mention Henderson is very raw at this point and I have A.J Terrell as my #2 corner. Gross-Matos is a special 4-3 defensive end who has a good burst off the line of scrimmage and bend/flexibility especially for a guy his size. He has amazing technique and his arms and legs move in sync. His physical traits along with his technique are why I believe he’s worth the selection here. Chaisson is an awesome edge rusher in his own right, but Gross-Matos has better technique, more raw strength, and fits better in our scheme. It’s close, but Yetur Gross-Matos is my #2 edge rusher and I would love to have him in Atlanta.

We’re focusing on our secondary in round two by taking Auburn corner, Noah Igbinoghene. Raekwon Davis is also available here and he’d be an interesting pick, but the cornerback position gets very thin after this so I have to take Iggy.

You know what time it is. Ashtyn Davis, come join the squad for the third time in a row. Now in the fourth round, we’re going to get a running back who can be a long term option if Todd Gurley doesn’t work out. Florida State running back Cam Akers is an underrated back with elite physical traits on par with Jonathan Taylor. Akers has the tools to be a very good back in the NFL. We get our first corner in the sixth round in Darnay Holmes from UCLA. He is very fluid and has great value as a fourth-round pick. I honestly forgot this was my last pick, otherwise, I would’ve drafted Oklahoma cornerback Parnell Motley, who is extremely underrated and can be a good man corner at the next level.

1st Round: Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge Rusher, Penn State 2nd Round: Noah Igbinoghene, Cornerback, Auburn 3rd Round: Ashtyn Davis, Safety, California 4th Round: Cam Akers, Running Back, Florida State 6th Round: Darnay Holmes, Cornerback, UCLA

Scenario Four: The Falcons trade back with the Vikings for the 22nd and 25th pick

Trade Information: The Falcons trade the 16th pick, both fourth-round picks, and their 2021 second-round pick to the Vikings for the 22nd and 25th pick.

This would be absolutely insane. We trade back six spots to pick who I would’ve drafted at 16 while also getting another first-round pick for relatively cheap. With the 22nd pick, I select Yetur Gross-Matos to be my franchise edge rusher. I’ve already explained why I like him so much, so I’m not going into any more detail. With the 25th pick, I get my #2 corner in the entire draft in Clemson cornerback, A.J Terrell. Terrell has the length and speed to be a very good man corner at the next level and I think this is an absolute steal at 25. Many people point out his performance in the national championship when criticizing him, but I honestly thought he played well. He was in Ja’Marr Chase’s hip pocket all game and only got beat because Joe Burrow made some incredible throws. He’ll immediately be my #1 corner.

In round two we get Oklahoma defensive tackle Neville Gallimore who is one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the draft. He is twitchy and explosive and will be great next to Grady Jarrett. The third round is no different, we’re still drafting Ashtyn Davis. Let’s move on. We finish the draft off by selecting Parnell Motley, a corner out of Oklahoma. I would lose my mind if we drafted all of these guys. 1st Round: Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge Rusher, Penn State (22) and A.J Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson (25) 2nd Round: Neville Gallimore, Defensive Tackle, Oklahoma 3rd Round: Ashtyn Davis, Safety, California 6th Round: Parnell Motley, Cornerback, Oklahoma

This is what I would do during the draft if I were the Falcons' GM. We missed out on drafting one player who I would love to have in Atlanta, Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Edwards-Helaire is the best running back in the class and I would draft him so fast if he was available in the third round. Other than that I thought we had a pretty good draft in all four scenarios. Hey falcons, hire me immediately.