The Falcons are expected to add a pass rusher in the draft, according to most draft pundits.
Nearly every major mock drafter has Atlanta landing one of Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, or Laiatu Latu. However, there is one brave soul out there who doesn’t want to stick with the status quo, and I had to do something to highlight the latest mock draft from The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner.
Instead of sticking with the easy pick, Baumgardner has the Falcons going in a completely opposite direction, swinging a blockbuster trade to move up the draft board and select arguably the best non-quarterback prospect in the class — Marvin Harrison Jr.
5. Atlanta Falcons (from LAC)*: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Projected trade: Atlanta trades No. 8, No. 43 and a 2025 mid-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for No. 5
The Falcons got off the pot and spent big to pair an experienced (and aging) Kirk Cousins with a young, talented roster. Why not be aggressive here and get Cousins the best non-QB in the draft?
So, it shakes out to be a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a 2025 mid-round pick for one of the most talented receiver prospects of all time? Yeah, I think Falcons fans would be just fine with that trade.
The son of the Hall of Fame wideout with the same namesake is the entire package. He’s got size, speed, route running, the ability to make contested catches and threaten after the catch. There’s nothing he can’t do. The 21-year-old is a prototype No. 1 receiver and will hit the ground running wherever he lands.
The Falcons’ offense would squarely look like a top 10 group on paper and maybe even better depending on how quickly Kirk Cousins and Zac Robinson assimilate to their new roles in Atlanta. It’s a tantalizing scenario.
However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Falcons’ blatant lack of attention to the pass rush. Everyone has Atlanta drafting one of Turner, Verse or Latu for a reason. Their pass rush is in desperate need of bolstering.
There are not a ton of options on the open market right now, and it seems like the best case scenario for the Falcons’ pass rush is that Arnold Ebiketie takes a monumental leap in his development, Calais Campbell returns, Zach Harrison turns into a regular contributor, and one of the rookies — Turner, Verse, and Latu — becomes an immediate impact player.
That seems a whole lot like hope and prayers, but Marvin Harrison would be cool!
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