With a total rebuild of the defensive front, the Falcons filled their largest roster void following the NFL Draft. Atlanta selected defenders with their second, third, and fourth round selections. Although they won’t make the Falcons a top-5 pass rush, Ruke Orhorhoro, Bralen Trice, and Brandon Dorlus should be a big boost. Raheem Morris was very successful last season with rookie pass rushers in Los Angeles. The Falcons still had deficiencies after the NFL Draft, particularly in the secondary. After the pass rush, cornerback was Atlanta’s most critical need, yet Terry Fontenot failed to choose even one in the draft. Currently, it appears that the Falcons are happy to match A.J. Terrell with two of Antonio Hamilton, Mike Hughes, Dee Alford, Kevin King, and Clark Phillips. Although adding a proven player to the position wouldn’t hurt, ESPN reports that the Falcons’ biggest need on the roster right now isn’t a cornerback. Holster: Robust safety Although Jessie Bates III excels at free safety, the Falcons’ solid safety position is in disarray.In his three NFL seasons, Richie Grant has regressed dramatically, especially when it comes to giving up a lot of huge plays to opposing tight ends. (Last season, Atlanta’s DVOA when covering tight ends was ranked 31st.) DeMarco Hellams, a 2023 seventh-round pick, is Grant’s backup. He could also be an issue when covering tight ends because he is physically strong but not very fast.Micah Abernathy works mostly as a gunner for special teams.Lukas Denis was part of Atlanta’s practice squad for the entire previous year.Although I agree that the Falcons could use a safety with starting potential, I still believe the team should prioritise a cornerback. In a defence that mostly uses cover-three tactics, Richie Grant and DeMarco Hellams ought to be able to handle the weight of heavy safety responsibilities.
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