Full 7-round 2023 mock draft for the Atlanta Falcons to start the month of March
We are just under two months away from finding out who will be the future of the Atlanta Falcons. With a top-ten pick, again, this will be another important draft for the team’s future. They have spent their past two top-ten picks on offensive playmakers, so we may see them switch to the other side of the ball.
Defense is certainly where they need the most help. They must find a pass rush and if this mock draft becomes a foreshadowing, then they just might be able to do that.
We will get right to what you came here for; here is a full seven-round Falcons mock draft:
Rd. 1, Pk. 8: Myles Murphy – DE – Clemson (6’5″, 280 lbs)
I just have a feeling about this one, the Atlanta Falcons need a defensive end in the worst way, they are already led by two former Clemson Tigers on defense, and their new defensive coordinator has prioritized ‘freak-of-nature’ defensive ends in the past.
Myles Murphy is six-foot-five, 280 pounds, and a freak athlete. He underperformed as a pass rusher with the Tigers but he was an elite run defender. The Falcons’ new defensive coaches should be able to get the most out of him.
The one question will be whether or not he will be available with the eighth pick, if he is, then mark Murphy down as the newest Falcon.
Rd. 2, Pk. 44: Andre Carter II – DE – Army (6’7″, 260 lbs)
Why not go to the well twice if you are the Atlanta Falcons? We all know that you can never have enough defensive linemen in the NFL and why not double your chances of finding a top pass rusher?
Andre Carter, as you can see, is one big dude. Six-foot-seven, 260 pounds is something that no one wants to block, even in the NFL. While he underperformed as a pass rusher this past year with only 3.5 sacks, he has shown he can do a lot more as he totaled 15.5 sacks in 2021.
It could end up being too intriguing to not take the Army defensive end. Pair him with the other freak, Myles Murphy, and we might finally have a decent pass rush.
Rd. 3, Pk. 75: Eli Ricks – CB – Alabama (6’2″, 190 lbs)
You can probably see a trend among these picks; all these players are big for their respective positions. The Atlanta Falcons have loved drafting big players under the new(ish) regime.
Eli Ricks was a highly-touted player coming out of high school and was a pretty good college player. The concerns with him are all correctable issues, so if the Falcons are confident that they can correct those issues, then Ricks would be a steal.
Pairing Eli with A.J. could give the Falcons one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL within a couple years. It would give the Dirty Birds a lot of length at outside corner which is one of the main traits you look for when filling the position.
The good news for the former Crimson Tide is that he wouldn’t be pressed into action from day one. Presumably, the Falcons will have Casey Hayward for another year to ease Ricks’ transition into the NFL.
Rd. 4, Pk. 110: Kobie Turner – DL – Wake Forest (6’3″, 290 lbs)
Bringing in defensive linemen needs to be a priority for the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, thus why three of the first four picks are defensive linemen—it is the biggest weakness on the team.
Kobie Turner would join the likes of Grady Jarrett and Ta’Quon Graham on the interior of the defensive line. Turner has a lot of strength which will certainly translate to the NFL and should give him a relatively smooth transition into the NFL.
It is worth noting that this pick is the last of the return on Julio Jones from when he was traded to the Titans in 2021.
Rd. 4, Pk. 113: A.T. Perry – WR – Wake Forest (6’5″, 205 lbs)
Adding a receiver who is six-foot-five to a group that already has a six-foot-five Drake London and a six-foot-six Kyle Pitts would terrifying.
The Falcons clearly need a second receiver and Perry can be that. The main knock on Perry is his route running but everything else about his game is excellent. He clearly has the size to win jump balls, he can catch just about anything, and he has playmaking ability when he gets the ball in his hands.
Rd. 5, Pk. 161: Brodric Martin – DL – Western Kentucky (6’5″, 340 lbs)
If you want beef on the interior of the Atlanta Falcons defensive line, then Brodric Martin will be your guy. 340 pounds would put him near the top of the NFL in weight—that right there means he shouldn’t be knocked around in the pros.
Clearly, you don’t need me to tell you how he plays the game, he wants to push through you. Playing at Western Kentucky didn’t give him the best competition but you can say that about a lot of great NFL players.
He only had five sacks during his four years as a college player but you aren’t drafting him for his ability to take down the quarterback. The Falcons would just need him to be a disrupter in both the run game and passing game. He could become a powerful interior player for the defense.
Rd. 7, Pk. 226: Luke Schoonmaker – TE – Michigan (6’6″, 250 lbs)
One of the more underrated needs for the Atlanta Falcons is a second tight end. We all know how much Arthur Smith loves this position; adding another threat behind him is something the Falcons must do.
Luke Schoonmaker would only add to the already-towering group of playmakers on the offense and he can be a good threat in the passing game. He doesn’t have Kyle Pitts speed but that isn’t necessary, he just needs to make plays in the middle of the field, which he has shown he can do.
Rd. 7, Pk. 247: Hunter Luepke – FB – North Dakota State (6’1″, 240 lbs)
The Falcons could be looking for a new fullback over the next few months. Keith Smith is due to be a free agent, so they might be looking to get younger at the position.
Hunter Luepke would be an excellent late-round pick. He is a solid fullback who is versatile. He can go out and make a few catches while also being a good option if you need a couple tough yards on the ground.