NW Atlanta News

INDIANAPOLIS — The Atlanta Falcons are closely monitoring the defensive prospects in this year's NFL draft as they aim to bolster their pass rush. Last season, the team struggled with sacks, finishing with 31, the second-fewest in the league. This was despite a late-season improvement where they recorded 21 sacks from Week 13 onwards.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris highlighted the team's focus on enhancing their pass rush capabilities: "This year," Morris stated, "we probably got to increase our pass rush, like we did towards the end of the season. We'll definitely have an eye for those guys."

Arnold Ebiketie led the team with six sacks last season, followed by Matthew Judon and Kaden Elliss. However, several players who contributed to last year's sack tally are entering free agency, emphasizing the need for new talent on the edge.

The Falcons have not ranked in the top half of the NFL for sacks since 2017 and have not been in the top 10 since 2004. As Morris noted, improving this area involves both finding new players and developing existing ones: "It starts with the people," he said. "We've got the people to be in place to be able to find those guys."

General Manager Terry Fontenot acknowledged that this year's draft class is rich in defensive talent: "Super deep on defense, and it's unique," Fontenot said. He stressed that while addressing needs is important, they must also focus on acquiring quality players without reaching.

With the No. 15 overall pick in this year's draft, Atlanta hopes to secure a player who can significantly impact their pass rush efforts.

"It all starts up front," Morris concluded. "We watched that, a clear example, in the Super Bowl with those guys being able to rush the passer and be able to finish off and do some really good things."