The Falcons will be on the clock in about a week’s time, and there are dozens of ways it can go for Atlanta, but what would be the ideal scenario?
The club has hosted a bevy of prospects on pre-draft visits, including the top quarterbacks. Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, and C.J. Stroud have all been to Flowery Branch, but I don’t think any of them are what the club would consider the ‘dream’ at No. 8. The dream would be Bryce Young, but there is 0% chance of that happening, so let’s try to keep it in the realm of possibilities.
In terms of filling a need and drafting the best player available, any situation where Jalen Carter or Will Anderson ends up in Atlanta has to be considered the perfect outcome, ideally without having to trade up.
The narratives about Anderson not being the best non-quarterback prospect are nonsense. He should’ve won the Heisman as a sophomore when he recorded an insane 31.0 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks for the Crimson Tide. It set the bar so high that people were disappointed with 17.0 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks as a junior. He’s a future premier pass rusher, which the Falcons haven’t had in years; he’s a double-digit sack guy in waiting.
As with every player coming out of college, Anderson can improve his technique as a pass rusher and develop a more diverse repertoire of moves to get after the quarterback. Right now, he primarily uses his power and athleticism to overwhelm offensive linemen. Still, landing Will Anderson would be Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith’s dream.
Carter, on the other hand, isn’t going to put up the gaudy sack totals but is nonetheless as impactful of a defender. He is a disruptor, standing 6-3 and weighing 310 pounds, with the strength to move offensive linemen at will. His quickness and athleticism are also elite for the position. Think of Chris Jones in Kansas City; that’s the kind of player Jalen Carter can become.
The Falcons’ defensive front has undergone a total overhaul. Bud Dupree and Lorenzo Carter bolstered the edge unit, while David Onyemata, Eddie Goldman, and Calais Campbell join the interior group. With stalwart Grady Jarrett and ascending Ta’Quon Graham, the rotation hasn’t been this deep in years. Arnold Ebiketie is also primed for a breakout campaign.
Anderson or Carter would give this group the Nick Bosa, Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, etc., kind of player that can completely change a game with one play — something this defense hasn’t had since John Abraham.
Both are unlikely to make it to the Falcons’ pick, but a man can dream.
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