Properly, that’s it.
After an offseason stuffed with expectations of the workforce’s first playoff look since 2017, the Atlanta Falcons discover themselves in acquainted territory: At dwelling, watching the playoffs as they determine what it is going to take to get again into the dance.
Because the Falcons do extra self-scouting on their teaching and front-office personnel, draft specialists from across the sports activities media panorama are gearing up for the unofficial starting of draft season.
With the Falcons narrowly lacking the playoffs, they’re pigeonholed in the course of the draft order at choose #15. With the abundance of defensive expertise, particularly within the trenches, each early mock draft has the Falcons looking for a playmaker on that aspect of the ball, with a transparent favourite rising as the highest match.
Mock Draft Roundup (1/6 – 1/11)
Connor Rodgers, NBC Sports activities: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
It was a sluggish begin to the 12 months for Pearce after he terrorized quarterbacks in 2023, however he actually turned it on down the stretch. In his last seven video games this 12 months he had 5.5 sacks and 27 extra pressures (per PFF). It’s a story as previous as time, however the Falcons as soon as once more want a pure go rusher.
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports activities: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
A run on edge rushers has already taken place however Atlanta continues to be in a position to get a robust rusher halfway via the primary spherical. The Falcons might additionally deal with the cornerback room and don’t be stunned in the event that they think about one of many high tight ends, who’re slightly extra well-rounded than Kyle Pitts.
Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports activities: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
The Falcons don’t should look too far to seek out the defender who may also help them probably the most.
Ben Arthur, Fox Sports activities: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The Falcons have a determined want for pass-rush assist. Their 31 sacks in 2024 have been the second-fewest within the NFL, and so they didn’t have a participant register greater than six. James Pearce Jr. had 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and a pressured fumble for the Vols final season
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports activities: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
James Pearce Jr. is a juiced-up, twitchy edge rusher who can win with the bull rush or velocity across the edge. He performs with a continuous motor and with the kind of freakish athleticism that may match the Jalen Milroe-type QBs within the pocket
Jordan Reid, ESPN: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Buying and selling for Matthew Judon within the preseason did little to resolve the Falcons’ go dashing woes. Atlanta’s 34.1% go rush win price was the sixth worst within the NFL, and its lead edge rusher — Arnold Ebiketie — is about to hit free company after the 2025 season. The Falcons haven’t had a defender attain double-digit sacks since 2016 (Vic Beasley Jr.). However Walker is a flexible defender who can convey stress off the sting (17.1% stress share and 6.5 sacks) and play off-ball linebacker.
Nate Tice & Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports activities: Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams
This would possibly change into one of many higher worth picks. Williams continues to be growing, however he got here on sturdy after lacking time with an ankle damage earlier within the season. He’s lengthy, can line up throughout the defensive position and is an efficient participant towards the run and go. He must proceed to develop his go dashing arsenal, however he on the very least can constantly push the pocket and put on on offensive linemen as video games go alongside.
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The Falcons exhibited one of many worst defensive performances I’ve ever seen towards the Panthers of their last sport of the season. Atlanta’s go rush has been dormant for years now. It was good to see Arnold Ebiketie come on sturdy the final month or so, however Matthew Judon and Lorenzo Carter will each check the waters of free company. The Vols’ Pearce produced 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss his sophomore season in Knoxville, primarily beating SEC tackles together with his explosive athleticism. If he continues to develop his pass-rush arsenal and provides a bit extra bulk to his 6-foot-5 body, he’d be a steal right here.
Trevor Sikkema, PFF: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The Falcons’ go rush got here alive in the course of the second half of the season, however that doesn’t imply they shouldn’t think about choosing a pass-rusher in a pass-rusher-heavy draft. Pearce provides them some burst and bend they don’t have on their defensive position proper now, and he performs a pure stand-up exterior linebacker spot. Although undersized at round 240 kilos, he recorded pass-rush win charges above 20% in every of the previous two years.
James Fragoza, Faculty Soccer Community: East Carolina CB Shavon Revel
A.J. Terrell wants assistance on the skin, and the Falcons lastly give it to him within the type of East Carolina CB Shavon Revel. Though he’s coming off a torn ACL, Revel has the scale, size, and aggressive mentality to thrive in Atlanta’s zone-heavy scheme.
Revel has room to develop technique-wise, however that ought to solely be seen as a optimistic due to how good he already is.
Danny Kelly, The Ringer: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
The Falcons had one of many least efficient pass-rush teams within the NFL final 12 months, so beefing up the defensive position ought to be precedence no. 1. Scourton has a giant, rugged body and performs with energy, physicality, and a few nifty footwork. He’s an ascending expertise who racked up 15 sacks over the previous two seasons—one at Texas A&M and one at Purdue—and he nonetheless has room to develop (he doesn’t flip 21 till August).
Kyle Crabbs, The thirty third Crew: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
This wasn’t the season it appeared like might have been for the Falcons, who as soon as upon a time sat at 6-3 and appeared to have the division of their grasp after sweeping the Bucs. However seasons are marathons — and the Falcons, particularly Kirk Cousins, merely ran out of fuel. Michael Penix Jr. has stepped in and proven promise, that’s the excellent news for Atlanta. However extra work stays for this roster to emerge transferring ahead and a excessive stage go rusher resembling James Pearce Jr. may very well be a powerful addition to a younger go rush room, significantly amid Matthew Judon’s expiring contract. Pearce Jr. has explosive burst, elite bend and Coach Raheem Morris might assist him develop even additional to construct counters off of his velocity.
Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports activities: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
It looks as if the Falcons are trying to find an edge rusher each draft, and that’s no completely different heading into 2025. They wager on traits and upside with Scourton. He would possibly must shed some weight to regain a few of his flexibility and burst from 2023, however he can get there and develop into particular within the NFL.
Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports activities: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
This protection desperately wants a real influence participant who can get after opposing quarterbacks off the sting, and this situation permits them to land a high-upside prospect to suit that position completely. Pearce wasn’t as constantly dominant as anticipated in 2024, however the flashes of brilliance can be sufficient for the Falcons to wager on right here.
Nick Grey, The Tennessean: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The Falcons want explosiveness off the sting, and Pearce will give them that from Day 1. Whereas the general sack numbers weren’t nice in 2024 at Tennessee, he stands out on movie as a constant disruptor.
Bleacher Report Scouting Division: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The Atlanta Falcons lastly discovered slightly juice of their pass-rush late within the 2024 season, however the unit wants much more.
Atlanta hasn’t featured a reputable menace off the sting since Vic Beasley registered 15.5 sacks in 2016. Clearly, Beasley’s profession fizzled out with the Falcons, however the truth he’s nonetheless being mentioned factors to the group’s ineptitude to adequately deal with the place.
“Clearly, they may use some pass-rush assist, and that’s what Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. can present,” Holder stated. “Pearce continues to be reliant on pure expertise over method, however the Tennessee product’s traits are value betting on with a choose within the teenagers.”
Nonetheless, the Falcons make the choose right here, with the potential of Pearce lastly residing as much as his potential the place many thought he might have been the No. 1 total prospect getting into the 2024 marketing campaign.
“The Falcons desperately need assistance on the sting as Matthew Judon underperformed this season and is an impending free agent,” Holder added. “Lorenzo Carter’s contract can also be about to run out, so preserving including the SEC standout is sensible.”
Blake Krass, DraftKings Community: Georgia S Malaki Starks
The Falcons have an incoming sophomore quarterback and a big assortment of talent place gamers on offense. They should make some enhancements on the defensive aspect of the ball and so they can look in-state at Malaki Starks from Georgia. Starks is a supremely athletic security that may blitz, cease the run, and ball-hawk like a real security. He may very well be a serious difference-maker because the Falcons look to construct into the Michael Penix Jr. period.
Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The one concern about Pearce is whether or not his dimension (243 kilos) is sufficient for groups to see him as a real three-down choice. In the event that they do, don’t be stunned to see Pearce land nearer to the highest 10. His potential to win with velocity off the sting is almost unmatched on this class.
JP Acosta, SB Nation: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Regardless of not making the playoffs, I feel Atlanta would possibly’ve discovered one thing with the simulated pressures they despatched within the again half of the season. LB Kaden Elliss is their greatest go rusher, however when your off-ball LB is your primary man, that’s saying one thing. I’m unsure the place Walker performs full time, however I desire a man together with his velocity and flexibility on my protection day by day of the week.
Jacob Infante, Professional Soccer Community: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Assuming Michael Penix Jr. takes over because the Falcons’ beginning quarterback in 2025, their offense appears to be in fairly good condition heading into the brand new 12 months. Their protection, nonetheless, might nonetheless use some work.
Some undertaking Walker as a stand-up edge rusher in a base 3-4 system, however I like him higher as an off-ball linebacker on the subsequent stage as a result of his being undersized off the sting. Regardless of the case, he’s an athletic and aggressive defender with schematic versatility, a red-hot motor in pursuit, and three-down worth as a result of how he can rush the passer and canopy in area.
By The Numbers
Prospects
- Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.: 10
- Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker: 4
- Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton: 3
- Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams: 1
- East Carolina CB Shavon Revel: 1
- Georgia S Malaki Starks: 1
Place
- EDGE: 14
- LB/EDGE: 4
- CB: 1
- S: 1
