The Falcons entered the 2024 offseason with questions at multiple positions. Some were addressed, aka signing Kirk Cousins. However, that signing meant cap space would be tight and the Falcons missed out on signing or trading for edge rushers like Danielle Hunter or Hassan Reddick. The edge position has been a question mark for years in Atlanta and with the 8th overall pick in the draft, they finally have an answer.
Falcons' reporter, Joe Patrick, joined Chris Thomas on "The Other Side of the Glass" to discuss what the Falcons should do with their fourth straight Top 10 pick in the NFL Draft.
"I had been thinking corner for about a month or so...but now I think going edge with your first pick is going to give you the best chance to get the kind of pass rush production you're going to need to be a successful defense," said Joe Patrick. The recent news of Hassan Reddick being traded to the Jets proved that the Falcons are not in the market to add pass rush in free-agency.
With the 8th overall pick the Falcons are in the envious position of having their pick of the litter as both Dallas Turner and Jared Verse, the top edge rushing prospects in the draft, are expected to be available.
Dallas Turner has been a powerhouse at Alabama who showed eye-popping athleticism at the combine, while Jared Verse has garnered lofty comparisons to Will Anderson Jr, a top five pick in the draft last year by the Houston Texans.
The Falcons have not had a double digit sacker in nearly a decade, with the last player gaining that status being Vic Beasley in 2016 with 15.5 sacks. Its time to bring that streak to an end.