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Atlanta Falcons: Updated draft priorities after first wave of free agency

By Freddie Boston

Oct 17, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) and Missouri Tigers offensive lineman Nate Crawford (55) battle during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Missouri 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Leonard Floyd (84) and Missouri Tigers offensive lineman Nate Crawford (55) battle during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Missouri 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Darron Lee gestures to the crowd in the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Darron Lee gestures to the crowd in the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Find a coverage linebacker

One area the Falcons are yet to address in free agency is the linebacker position. Maybe this will happen with Jerrell Freeman, but time will tell. For now, it remains a major position of need.

Running backs and tight ends burned the heart of the Atlanta defense in the passing game, and the defense won’t be able to make big strides forward until this area is fixed. Dan Quinn knows this, and he will have a plan as to how the Falcons are going to address the area.

Danny Trevathan would have made sense in free agency, but he opted for a move to Chicago where he will be reunited with John Fox, who coached him in Denver. The Falcons missed out but will still have plenty of options on draft day.

Maybe Darron Lee is the answer. If Atlanta turns to the position on day one, he could well be. Lee would make sense in Quinn’s defense as he has the speed to run sideline to sideline and keep up with tight ends and running backs. His best asset is his coverage. Lee is a look into the future of the inside linebacker position and he would be a good fit for the Falcons.

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