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Atlanta Falcons: How team needs were addressed in 2016 NFL Draft

By Freddie Boston

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Keanu Neal (Florida) is selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the number seventeen overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Keanu Neal (Florida) is selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the number seventeen overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pass rush

Pass rush was an area the Falcons surprisingly didn’t go after in a big way during the draft, or the entire offseason for that matter.

It appears the approach was to try and improve the rush across the entire front seven as opposed to going for a pure edge rusher to pair with Vic Beasley. This is somewhat surprising to me, but perhaps the draft board just didn’t fall the right way for Dan Quinn.

Free agent signing Derrick Shelby will offer some support, although he’s never posted more than 3.5 sacks in a season. Adrian Clayborn will spend more time at defensive end with the expectation of generating some more consistent pressure. Linebacker Courtney Upshaw and second-round draft choice Deion Jones have skills to offer, but there is still a lack of an edge rusher capable of posting double-digit sacks in a season.

This puts a ton of pressure onto the shoulders of last year’s first-round selection Vic Beasley. For one reason or another — perhaps due to not loving a prospect and not wanting to reach, or simply feeling other needs were more urgent — the Falcons didn’t successfully address the defensive end position.

Next: Linebacker

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