Atlanta Falcons: 5 Burning Pre-Draft Questions

Dec 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) carries the ball past Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

How can they fix the defense?

Last season the Falcons struggled majorly on defense. The fact a team ranked 32nd in total defense and pass defense was a Week 17 victory away from the playoffs highlights the poor quality of the NFC South last term.

They can’t rely on inconsistent divisional rivals to succeed. The defense simply has to get better.

With free agency all but finished, the Falcons turn to the draft as they look to improve. Fortunately, Dimitroff should have options available to him when the team hit the clock with the eighth-overall pick. We will go into more detail on who they could draft first later on.

For now, let’s break down what the Falcons need.

Top of the list is the pass-rush. Yes, they have brought in Reed and Durant via free agency, but neither are sack-masters. Picking up at least one player who can hit the quarterback regularly will be crucial.

Following this, the Falcons will need to bolster the secondary. Cornerbacks are a premium in the NFL, and selecting one in the early rounds would make sense.

The Falcons should select the best defensive player available to them through the draft. While they do need to address certain positions over others, the defense has struggled so much that they are best off stacking up on talented football players.

A solid draft could help the Falcons’ defense move up the rankings considerably in 2015.

Next: Eighth pick is crucial