After a stunning start (per Kirk Cousins, at least) to Round 1, the Falcons are moving up the board to open Round 2. They are acquiring No. 35 from the Cardinals. Atlanta will pick up Nos. 35 and 186, while Arizona will add Nos. 43 and 79. The Falcons used the pick on Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro.
Born Oghenerukevwe Orhorhoro, Ruke spent five years at Clemson, but he didn’t start for the Tigers until his redshirt sophomore year in 2021. Orhorhoro was a consistently disruptive presence, logging eight tackles for loss in each of his three seasons as a starter while piling up 11.5 sacks over that same period.
Atlanta continues to confuse most following the draft with their selections. After yesterday’s debacle with Michael Penix Jr., they once again traded up in order to address a position that most wouldn’t see as an immediate need on their roster. With David Onyemata and Grady Jarrett signed for the next two years, Orhorhoro will be coming off the bench as an interior rotation in 2024. It was also a little shocking to see Orhorhoro, who could’ve been available later in the second round, get traded up for before some higher-ranking defensive tackles in the draft.
With the two new picks from Atlanta, the Cardinals now hold five Day 2 picks. They’ll have the 43rd overall pick in the second round as well as the 66th, 71st, 79th, and 90th picks, all in the third round later tonight.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
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