The Atlanta Falcons biggest need for multiple years running has been pass-rusher, and while they didn't properly address it at the top of the last four drafts, they made sure to address it Thursday night, selecting BOTH Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. in the first round. Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot joined Andy Bunker and Randy McMichael on The Midday Show and explained his thought process to make sure both guys ended up as Falcons.
"You look at worst-case scenario and work through that. You want to get both players, how do we get back in to get James Pearce," wondered Fontenot. "We knew teams in the lower 20s might want to trade out, and we got really aggressive. That was a dream scenario to get both players."
The Falcons, who also added Leonard Floyd in free agency, will see Walker and Pearce join a group of relatively young pass-rushers that, while unproven, could be the difference for the Falcons as they grow and develop together.