It might be the NFL's worst-kept secret that the Atlanta Falcons are desperate for contributors off the edge. After all, that's what happens when you lose your two top pass-rushers, as Jalon Walker will be on the shelf all year after tearing his ACL, and James Pearce Jr. is facing an eight-game suspension.
Of course, the Falcons are dealing with scraps at the position. Yes, they signed former Pro Bowler Za'Darius Smith, but he'll turn 34 before the season opener and he spent most of last year retired. And from there, the rotation of Samson Ebukam, Azeez Ojulari, and Cameron Thomas doesn't inspire much confidence.
They were hoping someone like Bralen Trice would step up now that he's healthy, but that man has glass bones. Thankfully, someone is stepping up, and it's putting Keshawn Banks in a position where he has a real chance to make the roster--and possibly carve out a real role for this defensive line.
Keshawn Banks is becoming the unsung hero of the Falcons' pass rush
The Falcons signed the former UFL standout after their second day of mandatory minicamp in June, but has been one of their biggest winners of the summer. In the preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, Banks recorded a team-high 90.2 defensive PFF grade from Pro Football Focus.
The reason for that is across his 24 snaps played, 21 of them came in run defense or as a pass-rusher. And he also led the Dirty Birds with an 82.6 pass-rush grade and a 79.0 run defense grade, as he logged a QB hit and generated some of the most consistent pressure we saw in the 27-7 defeat.
And his dominance continued on Saturday afternoon against the Colts. The 34-6 victory saw the 26-year-old again lead the team with a 78.9 pass-rush grade from PFF, as he recorded an impressive four QB hurries and a quarterback hit--and he even managed to log a higher pass-rush grade than Pearce.
The concern is that he missed two tackles, but he was still far more productive than Ojulari was in the win. More importantly, Banks is making an impact with the reps he's receiving, and that's bound to make an impression this coaching staff given how much this pass-rush reeks of desperation now.
The 2023 undrafted free agent was never expected to set the world on fire, and was likely never someone the Falcons expected to be more than just a camp body. But the thin pass-rush is going to force them to consider all avenues, which includes giving Banks a more extended look.
Keshawn Banks is coming through in the Falcons' moment of need, so instead of confirming his place on the roster bubble, he could play his way into a real role for a depleted pass-rush.
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