The reason why the Atlanta Falcons will draft a pass rusher in the first round

Last year, the Atlanta Falcons decided to pick up the fifth-year option on Vic Beasley. While he did finish the season strong, the Falcons decided to part ways with Beasley and are now currently back in the same situation with another defender.

The Atlanta Falcons decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on Takk McKinley and maybe that’s because they learned their lesson with Beasley. Since being drafted in 2017, Mckinley has only registered 16.5 sacks which are not the type of production the Falcons expected from their former first-round pick.

Dante Fowler has signed a three-year deal and it’s not out of the question that the Falcons won’t double up and select a pass rusher from the edge in the first round.  The Falcons could use the selection of a pass rusher to light a fire under the young McKinley or they could be drafting his replacement with no intention of resigning him no matter what he does this season.

So far this offseason, the Falcons have looked like winners and the luck could continue on into the draft. If they do decide to draft a pass rusher in the first round and he ends up being a stud while at the same time Takk decides to have a career year, just like that, the Falcons have three pass rushers they can put out on the field at anytime time.

If the Falcons decide to not take the pass rusher route in the first round, that doesn’t mean McKinley is out of the water. They could decide to draft one in the second or third round and let’s not forget the Falcons still have John Cominsky on the roster as well who should get more playing time next season with a year of experience under his belt.

They seemed to learn their lesson and right now Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff are on thin ice. The decision to not pick up McKinley’s fifth-year option is a safe and smart decision.