The Senior Bowl is upon us and with it comes an emotion that Atlanta Falcons followers are all too conversant in: Hope.
Now, hope is an advanced emotion, as a result of with it comes expectation. And if there’s one factor that you simply don’t placed on a younger, creating quarterback, it’s expectations. Even when Michael Penix, Jr. appears greater than mature sufficient to deal with them.
To take among the load off him, this protection needs to be extra productive than the lifeless unit that limped on the market in 2024. With the rent of recent defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, there appears to be like to be extra of a give attention to getting extra explosive play out of the protection.
With that in thoughts, consultants don’t know the way they’re initially going so as to add that explosion, however there have been a couple of gamers that NFL draftniks appear to love probably the most.
Falcons Mock Draft Roundup (1/12 – 1/25)
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports activities: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Atlanta merely must proceed including expertise on protection. The Falcons have did not generate a lot of a go rush and Jalon Walker would assist them do this though in an unorthodox method.
Mel Kiper, ESPN: Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart
Anticipate to listen to this identify much more as we get into predraft occasions. Stewart nonetheless has some improvement forward, however his athletic traits at 6-6, 290 kilos may push him up the board this spring. Atlanta was thirty first in sacks (31) and twenty seventh in go rush win price (34.1%) this season, and it hasn’t finished almost sufficient to scrub up that weak spot. The Matthew Judon commerce in August was a step in the best path, however he added simply 5.5 sacks this season and is a free agent.
Stewart didn’t rack up sacks in faculty — 1.5 in 2024 — however he has the potential to interrupt out in a giant means within the execs.
Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports activities: Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams
This protection desperately wants an influence edge rusher, and on this situation, they don’t should look far to get their man. Williams missed a piece of the 2024 season because of harm, however when wholesome, he was dominant pressure for the Bulldogs towards each the run and go. He’d be a perfect match for a Falcons protection that merely doesn’t get sufficient splash performs from their go rush.
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Community: Michigan CB Will Johnson
Johnson is a polarizing participant across the league. He offers measurement and manufacturing, however some questions emerged about his tackling and prime pace in 2024.
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports activities: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Jalon Walker is a do-everything linebacker/edge hybrid who’d be a welcomed addition to Atlanta’s comparatively weak second stage.
Rob Rang, Fox Sports activities: Michigan CB Will Johnson
Whereas loads criticized Atlanta’s collection of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. final 12 months, few would quibble with the addition of Johnson at this level within the draft. Extensively considered a potential top-10 expertise previous to an injury-plagued 2024 marketing campaign, Johnson has the look of a future Professional Bowl candidate.
Matthew Cannata, Professional Soccer Community: Michigan CB Will Johnson
There’s nothing in protection that Will Johnson can’t do. He’s proven every thing he wants to listen to his identify referred to as early on that fourth Thursday in April regardless of lacking chunk of the season.
Johnson has prototypical measurement, size, and reactive athleticism. If it weren’t for Hunter, we’d focus on Johnson’s ball expertise among the many greatest we’ve seen in current occasions. He persistently reveals he can flip, discover the ball, find it within the air, and elevate to its highest level whereas ending the catch to the turf.
Johnson is a greater true man protection cornerback than Hunter, and he’s actually no slouch taking part in with zone eyes, both.
Derek Tate, Professional Soccer Community: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The transfer to accumulate Matthew Judon from the New England Patriots getting into the 2024 NFL season didn’t yield the returns the group hoped for after ending thirty first within the league with simply 31 sacks.
Fortuitously for the Atlanta Falcons, this class is loaded with explosive edge-rushing threats, permitting the group to land a toolsy, athletic prospect like James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee.
Pearce has an immense quantity of burst, energy, and bend for a 243-pound prospect. However he may understand his true potential as a dominant pass-rushing pressure if he expands his arsenal of strikes and proves extra constant together with his fingers on the subsequent stage.
Phil Perry, NBC Sports activities: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
One other 12 months. One other push for the Falcons to deal with their pass-rush state of affairs. Pearce is a freaky mover however seemingly a third-down specialist.
Daniel Flick, Sports activities Illustrated: Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart
Regardless of a late-season surge, the Falcons completed with 31 sacks, second-worst within the league. Stewart strikes with distinctive athleticism and fluidity for a 6’6”, 290-pound defensive lineman, and he can transfer up and down the road of scrimmage. His uncooked numbers gained’t impress—he registered only one.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss this season—however he logged 39 whole pressures and holds intriguing upside.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting Information: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
The Falcons are again to needing extra pass-rush pop, as their lack of a stress protection precipitated them to maneuver on from coordinator Jimmy Lake underneath Raheem Morris. Jeff Ulbrich labored with some higher go rush assist with the Jets and might get one of the best out of Scourton.
Kevin Knight, The Falcoholic: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting Information: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
The Falcons want to spice up their outdoors go rush for Raheem Morris’ second season with a change in defensive coordinator. Scourton will be their sack chief instantly.
Kyle Crabbs, The thirty third Crew: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Atlanta’s protection ought to proceed to come back into focus in 12 months 2 underneath Raheem Morris. However the hiring of Jeff Ulbrich at defensive coordinator additional underscores the wants of this group shifting ahead. Particularly, they’ll want numerous go rushers. Greater than you in all probability suppose. That was the calling card in New York with the Jets — a high-volume rotation of succesful and explosive go rushers. That’s what the Falcons get with Walker, who can step in and rush off the sting but additionally doubtlessly discover another roles inside Morris’ protection as he matures.
Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports activities: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
It’s go rusher it doesn’t matter what for the Falcons. Scourton put some dangerous weight on in the course of the 2024 season, however he’s nonetheless a tactical rusher with excellent energy. If he can get into higher form, Scourton may find yourself being an enormous worth decide.
Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports activities: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
Jogs my memory slightly of Nolan Smith, the undersized edge rusher from Georgia who went to the Eagles. He struggled as a rookie, however now, now he’s popping. Move rush is the highest precedence.
Mason Johnstone, The Draft Community: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Atlanta lastly provides a real pass-rushing savant in Georgia’s Jalon Walker. A protection that has struggled to have an effect on pockets for what looks as if perpetually, Walker brings tenacity and motor to the Falcons’ go rush, paying homage to his eventual teammate Grady Jarrett. Walker is not only a taxing and overwhelming rusher, however he’s an elite ball-tracker and has the flexibility to put on completely different hats for the Falcons’ protection.
JP Acosta, SB Nation: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
The Falcons shouldn’t let Walker depart the state, for my part. Together with his motor and flexibility being unlocked in DC Jeff Ulbrich’s protection, Walker makes numerous sense right here for the Falcons.
Jaime Eisner, The Draft Community: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
The Falcons want to deal with their go rush this offseason. James Pearce Jr. entered the season because the potential EDGE1 within the class however didn’t fairly put all of it collectively to be a top-10 decide. Pearce Jr. has some issues he must work on defending the run, however he’s a stud on passing downs with the flexibility to make a serious year-one influence. The Falcons can win the NFC South subsequent season if they will enhance their bottom-10 protection.
Kyle Crabbs, The thirty third Crew: Michigan IDL Kenneth Grant
The Falcons’ future on protection appears to be in good fingers with Raheem Morris, however Atlanta nonetheless must get extra expertise throughout the board. The onerous components on offense are safe, with expertise on the talent positions, a sturdy OL and a younger QB in Michael Penix Jr. The defensive position may also help lower down on the yards and factors by being higher within the crimson zone (twenty eighth in TD%) and on third downs (45.3% conversion was thirty first within the NFL). Kenneth Grant brings extra energy, physicality, and pass-rush potential to a unit that at the moment boasts two growing older veterans, Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata, each of that are expiring contracts after 2025.
Dave Clark, Cincinnati Enquirer: Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart
Move rush shall be among the many Falcons’ most important wants in the course of the offseason.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart
Will probably be fascinating to see how early Stewart goes on draft evening. His manufacturing this season (5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks in 12 video games ) was underwhelming, however NFL groups don’t draft stats — they draft traits. And Stewart has distinctive size and athletic instruments for a participant who’s 6-foot-6 and 285 kilos.
Will Helms, Faculty Soccer Community: Michigan CB Will Johnson
What a dream situation for the Falcons, who discover a nook to go reverse of A.J. Terrell. Will Johnson is among the prime corners within the class, perhaps one of the best pure nook when it comes to NFL readiness. He falls right here just because there are a number of nice corners on this class and groups on the prime may prioritize thinner positions, planning to circle again later.
Johnson handled accidents in his last 12 months in Ann Arbor, however he has the flexibility to step in and instantly contribute to a crew that’s hoping to recover from the hump.
Aryton Ostly, USA At this time: Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams
Atlanta’s go rush is a widely known weak spot on protection and Matthew Judon is a free agent. They should make investments a prime decide within the place for the primary time because the 2017 draft. They gained’t should look far. Williams brings spectacular energy and motion expertise at 6-foot-5 and 265 lbs. His tape within the Bulldogs’ first recreation towards Texas in 2024 alone may seemingly make him a first-round decide. He’s nonetheless inexperienced because of taking part in in a rotation however can develop with time right into a difference-maker the crew’s been lacking for years.
Joe Schad, Palm Seaside Publish: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune: Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams
The Falcons exhibited one of many worst defensive performances I’ve ever seen towards the Panthers of their last recreation 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 take a look at the waters of free company quickly. A former five-star recruit, Williams hasn’t put all of it collectively but, nevertheless it doesn’t require numerous creativeness to foresee him having success on the subsequent stage. He oozes the bodily traits and expertise defensive coordinators search, and is already a plus-run defender. His greatest flaws, like hole self-discipline, will be coached up.
Theo Mackie, Arizona Republic: Tennessee EDGE James Pearce, Jr.
It’s protection, protection and extra protection on the docket for the Falcons this offseason. Pearce didn’t fairly reside as much as expectations this 12 months however he nonetheless completed with 7.5 sacks and would fill a serious want.
Nick Suss, The Tennesseean: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
The Falcons finally will tackle their must get to the passer, proper? Scourton is a giant, bodily presence who can play inside if wanted however specializes as a jumbo-sized outdoors backer. He had an up-and-down 12 months at Texas A&M production-wise, however he’s obtained the sort of profile that defensive coaches drool over.
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports activities: Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton
A run on edge rushers has already taken place however Atlanta remains to be in a position to get a robust rusher halfway by the primary spherical. The Falcons may additionally tackle the cornerback room and don’t be shocked in the event that they think about one of many prime tight ends, who’re slightly extra well-rounded than Kyle Pitts.
Mike Renner, CBS Sports activities: Michigan IDL Kenneth Grant
Kenneth Grant is among the greatest athletes on this defensive sort out class regardless of tipping the scales over 330 kilos. He’s solely scratching the floor of what he may grow to be on tape. The Falcons want all the assistance they will get alongside the defensive position.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA At this time: Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams
With Jeff Ulbrich anticipated to institute a 4-3 scheme and Matthew Judon sure at no cost company, the Falcons could possibly be beginning over with their underperforming go rush. Williams has adopted in fellow former Georgia product Travon Walker’s path as an edge rusher who appears to be like the half however has but to play as much as his talents, although he must be alluring to an Atlanta roster that doesn’t have anybody together with his stage of upside.
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports activities: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Jalon Walker is a do-everything linebacker/edge hybrid who’d be a welcomed addition to Atlanta’s comparatively weak second stage.
Josh Edwards, CBS Sports activities: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Atlanta merely must proceed including expertise on protection. The Falcons have did not generate a lot of a go rush and Jalon Walker would assist them do this though in an unorthodox method.
Nate Tice & Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports activities: Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams
This would possibly develop into one of many higher worth picks. Williams remains to be creating, however he got here on sturdy after lacking time with an ankle harm 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 speeding arsenal, however he on the very least can persistently push the pocket and put on on offensive linemen as video games go alongside.
AJ Cola, Raiders Wire: Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker
Falcons LB Kaden Ellis led all linebackers in pressures this season with 41, however the groups subsequent most pressures from the place was simply 4. Walker is a flexible participant who can play off the ball or on the sting as a go rusher. He’s nonetheless not nice in protection, and will by no means be at 245 kilos, however he made huge strides in that space in 2024. The Falcons want any assist they will get on protection, notably with speeding the passer. Walker will permit them to be extra numerous with their blitz and protection packages.
By The Numbers
Prospects
- Tennesee EDGE James Pearce, Jr. – 16
- Georgia LB/EDGE Jalon Walker – 14
- Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton – 8
- Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams – 5
- Texas A&M DL Shemar Stewart – 4
- Michigan CB Will Johnson – 4
- Michigan IDL Kenneth Grant – 2
- East Carolina CB Shavon Revel – 1
- Georgia S Malaki Starks – 1
Place
- EDGE – 29
- LB/EDGE – 14
- DL/IDL – 6
- CB – 5
- S – 1
