Atlanta Falcons: Which draft need is most important?

The Atlanta Falcons have plenty of options in the draft.

Having a good team can sometimes make for a much more stressful draft. If a team is already pretty good at the craft, then usually there is only one or two positions that really need to be filled, and this means that most teams in this position will reach for talent based on their needs, not what great players are available.

Good news Falcons fans! Your team is not one of these teams. The Falcons have a few needs actually, most on the defensive side of the ball. If you look on many mock drafts from different sites, you’ll find that most analysts think the Falcons will take one of four positions; defensive end, defensive tackle, inside linebacker or outside linebacker.

It’s no secret that these positions must be upgraded. The Falcons were horrendous at rushing the passer, and they lacked a dominant defensive leader on the field, with no standout linebackers. Vic Beasley adds a good cornerstone in place for the left end, but there is still a right end to fill.

Which position is the most important though? Do the Falcons need to reach for talent? Can they let a player like _____ get drafted before them? Who do they draft? After hours of research, comparing player stats with free agent signings, the answer becomes obviously clear.

It doesn’t matter.

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The Falcons have taken to free agency to attempt and fix some of their glaring issues on defense. They signed Derrick Shelby from Miami on a four year deal and even re-signed Adrian Clayborn in an attempt to add depth and competition to the defensive end position. This might be the least position of need out of the four, but with Shelby’s history of off-field issues, it still is just as much of a need as the other three. They signed some depth at linebacker, but there is no obvious choice of who would start, and defensive tackles are nothing to shake a stick at.

This plays as an advantage in the draft. Who do the Falcons take? Simple, they take the best player on the board in any of these four positions. This will allow the Falcons to get a great first round talent, with possible play-making ability, without sacrificing one of the roster needs.

A’Shawn Robinson and Reggie Ragland are top-ten players that could fall to the Falcons at number 17, and picking any of them would be a steal considering the need for defensive dominance on Dan Quinn’s young defense. This also means the Falcons aren’t put in any pressure situations to have to trade up.

Next: Falcons upgrade pass rush in latest mock draft

The Falcons have a great chance to secure a young, standout defensive playmaker, and will likely waste no time calling his name come draft day. Let’s just hope the top ten teams need offense more than defense so the Falcons get the best value pick available.