15 high NFL Draft targets for Falcons in Dane Brugler’s Prime 100

After utilizing an aggressive quantity of assets to optimize the 2024 season, the 2025 low season doesn’t begin nice for the Atlanta Falcons. In keeping with OverTheCap.com, they begin over $11 million over the projected $272.5 wage cap, buoyed by the exorbitant $40 million cap quantity from now-projected backup quarterback Kirk Cousins.

On high of that, Atlanta solely has 5 picks in subsequent 12 months’s draft, with solely two within the high 100 and the third proper on the outskirts at choose 117.

Atlanta Falcons 2025 Draft Picks

• Spherical 1, Decide #15
• Spherical 2, Decide #46
• Spherical 4, Decide #117
• Spherical 7, Decide #224
• Spherical 7, Decide TBD

That leads us to right now. On Tuesday, the Athletic’s Dane Brugler dropped his Prime 100 prospects of the 2025 NFL Draft. This 12 months’s class is fascinating, as a result of outdoors of the 2 can’t-miss prospects on the high: WR/CB Travis Hunter and EDGE Abdul Carter, there isn’t a consensus on the place the remainder of these gamers would fall on groups’ large boards.

One other facet of Brugler’s Prime 100 is the truth that within the high 55 picks, there are solely two quarterbacks ranked. With the shortage of expertise on the place, extra focus shall be on constructing the rosters across the quarterback, extra particularly within the trenches.

The way in which the Eagles dismantled the Chiefs and their safety plan in Tremendous Bowl LIX could possibly be one thing that new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was introduced in to do for the Falcons and their persistently anemic move rush.

Might Atlanta discover a part of that reply on this draft? Or do they go the route of a premier cornerback to line up alongside A.J. Terrell, who has but to expertise a operating mate that may take a few of the load off his plate. There’s loads of locations the Falcons can go together with the abundance of expertise on this draft and solely so many picks to get there.

Listed below are 15 prospects, 5 for every of Atlanta’s first three picks, that might don the crimson and black come April.

Spherical 1, Decide 15

Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams (#16)

Constant manufacturing was absent from his 2024 tape, however Williams battled via an ankle harm a lot of the 12 months and flashed sufficient high-end performs to remind groups why he belongs within the first-round combine. He has size for days with the athletic physique management and pure energy groups shall be keen to wager on, even when the nuance in his sport isn’t there but.

Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr. (#21)

Lengthy and athletic, Pearce is ready to convert his velocity to energy, and he rushes from a low place to forklift blockers utilizing his prolonged levers. There are some query marks about his potential within the run sport, however he chases with terrific effort to make stops close to the sidelines.

In a number of methods, Pearce jogs my memory of Will McDonald IV, who wasn’t essentially the most well-rounded prospect however had the juice to create stress. Pearce’s sport shall be valued on the subsequent degree.

Michigan CB Will Johnson (#13)

After an All-America sophomore season, which included defensive MVP honors within the nationwide championship, Johnson put up-and-down play on his 2024 tape earlier than lacking most of his last season because of accidents.

Johnson is comfy in each press and off-coverage, with the fluid athleticism and route recognition to seamlessly transition or assault the soccer.

Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell (#23)

Campbell is among the extra fascinating prospects on this draft class. Although he doesn’t have top-tier instincts as an off-ball participant, his sideline-to-sideline velocity and explosiveness lead on to manufacturing (he led Alabama in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and compelled fumbles in 2024).

Some groups have him as a part of their edge-rusher stack, whereas others need his promising versatility at linebacker. Regardless, Campbell is a first-round expertise.

Marshall EDGE Mike Inexperienced (#12)

Too many individuals are hung up on Inexperienced’s dimension as an alternative of appreciating his edge velocity, play violence and the methods wherein he impacts the sport. He has severe juice as a move rusher to bend, seize the nook and end on the quarterback.

He may not have 35-inch arms to simply outleverage blocks within the run sport, however he performs with the pop to shock and separate, which permits him to impression the ball service. Inexperienced additionally led the FBS this season with 17 sacks.

Spherical 2, Decide 46

Oregon EDGE Jordan Burch (#51)

Burch is considerably of a one-trick pony as a move rusher — he creates pocket push with energy. However the 285-pounder has the distinctive athletic traits to be extra, if he improves his setup and secondary strikes.

He must be extra explosive together with his palms to shed blocks within the run sport, however he confirmed a lot improved consciousness and ending abilities on his 2024 tape.

Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer (#44)

An Ohio child who grew as much as be a Buckeyes captain, Sawyer elevated his variety of pressures created from 22 to 37 to 64 over the past three seasons. He’ll endlessly be remembered inside the program for his strip-sack, 83-yard scoop and rating towards Texas within the Faculty Soccer Playoff title sport.

He’s one-dimensional as a move rusher and lacks the perfect suddenness or size for an edge participant, however his exercise degree and the energy in his palms make him an every-down issue.

Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison (#55)

Whatever the protection, Morrison has terrific foot quickness, physique fluidity and approach to reflect early and regain section late, which permits him make performs on the soccer with out panic. He reveals a pure really feel in protection and understands play indicators, though play-strength and sturdiness issues will comply with him to the following degree.

As he’s again from his second hip surgical procedure, Morrison’s medicals shall be important for his last grade.

Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston (#54)

Hairston strikes pretty effortlessly in all areas of the sector, and he performs to his assist in man-to-man protection whereas exhibiting conviction and consciousness in Cowl 3. He’s a pure making performs on the catch level, however he’s additionally extra scrappy than robust, which can present up towards bodily NFL receivers and in run help.

Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton (#53)

A thickly constructed, high-motor rusher, Scourton is a banshee off the sting with the quickness and energy to work half-a-man and put on down blockers. His sport plan, nevertheless, is overly reliant on effort due to his common athletic instruments, which retains his method comparatively primary.

Nonetheless, his aggressive worker-bee play type ought to translate to NFL beginning snaps.

Spherical 4, Decide 117

Kansas CB Cobee Bryant (#96)

Bryant barely tops 170 kilos after meal, however he not often will get punked by dimension on the sector. He’s a fast read-react athlete and performs with the compete abilities that may communicate to NFL coaches.

Texas S Andrew Mukuba (#97)

Loads of groups gained’t think about drafting a sub-200-pound security, however Mukuba put sufficient on tape in 2024 to power GMs to rethink that threshold. He’s at his greatest flying via alleys with urgency and conviction.

Ole Miss CB Trey Amos (#93)

At six toes tall with 32-inch arms, Amos can match up nicely towards NFL dimension. He’s very scheme-specific, although, which can eradicate him for a number of groups. However his consistency in protection improved every season.

Florida State DT Joshua Farmer (#88)

Rather a lot went flawed for Florida State this season, however there have been a number of shiny spots on the protection, resembling Azareye’h Thomas at nook and Farmer within the trenches.

A workforce captain, Farmer is an explosive mover and assaults gaps like a bull in a china store.

Ole Miss LB Chris Paul (#100)

Although he’s undersized, Paul is a high-energy Mike ‘backer who sees the sector nicely and had the dirtiest jersey on every tape studied. He may not be a match for each scheme, however I’ll wager he finds a solution to be productive on the subsequent degree..