Falcons sign second-round DT Ruke Orhorhoro

Atlanta provided the NFL world with the biggest surprise of the draft’s first night by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. The team added an eventual Kirk Cousins successor in the process, but they also tried to move back into the first-round order. The latter move would have seen the Falcons acquire No. 10 overall, thus allowing them to add a defensive player.

Edge rush was seen as a glaring need for Atlanta ahead of the draft, and the team has been linked to Dallas Turner with respect to its trade-up efforts. The same is also true for defensive tackle Byron Murphy, however. The latter was ultimately selected 16th overall (with Turner going one spot later), and he certainly would have been a logical target for Atlanta given the team’s later draft moves.

Upon trading up the second-round order, Orhorhoro was selected with the No. 35 pick. That surprisingly meant he heard his name called one slot before Jer’Zhan Newton, whom many viewed as a strong Day 1 candidates. Nevertheless, Orhorhoro and fourth-rounder Brandon Dorlus will have a notable role in the short- and long-term future on the defensive line.

The former spent five seasons at Clemson, developing as a pass rusher along the way. Orhorhoro posted eight tackles for loss in each of the past three years, totaling 11.5 sacks during that span. The 6-4, 295-pounder will earn just over $9.9MM across the next four campaigns, as noted by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Orhorhoro will split reps with Dorlus as well as veterans Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata along the Falcons’ defensive interior.

Here is an updated look at the Falcons’ rookie class:

• Round 1, No. 8: Michael Penix Jr (QB, Washington)
• Round 2, No. 35 (from Cardinals): Ruke Orhorhoro (DT, Clemson) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 74: Bralen Trice (EDGE, Washington)
• Round 4, No. 109: Brandon Dorlus (DT, Oregon)
• Round 5, No. 143: JD Bertrand (LB, Notre Dame) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 186 (from Vikings through Cardinals): Jase McClellan (RB, Alabama) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 187: Casey Washington (WR, Illinois) (signed)
• Round 6, 197 (from Browns): Zion Logue (DT, Georgia) (signed)