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- Falcon Report
Are Falcons Done Adding Pass Rushers? Jessie Bates III Weighs In
The Atlanta Falcons have long battled pass rush question marks, and they didn't do as much as many expected to quell those concerns this offseason. Neither of Atlanta's sack leaders from a season ago - Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, who had 6.5 apiece - are currently on the roster. The Falcons drafted four defensive front players in second-round tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, third-round edge rusher Bralen Trice, fourth-round tackle Brandon Dorlus and sixth-round tackle Zion Logue, but spurned addressing the spot at No. 8 overall, opting instead for Michael Penix Jr. with hopes of securing a long-term answer at quarterback.
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Atlanta Draft Picks
Michael
Penix Jr.
1
Rnd
8
Pk
QB
Position
- Draft Grade: F
- Pre-Draft Rank: 70
- School: Washington
- Height: 6' 3"
- Weight: 213
Expert Commentary
First F of the day! What is going on in Atlanta? This pick makes absolutely no sense. The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins and are now drafting a six-year college starter to sit behind him for two years? What sense does that make? Penix isn't the cleanest prospect and he has injury concerns. We'll find out what this looks like when he sees the field in 2026 or 2027.
Ruke
Orhorhoro
2
Rnd
3
Pk
DT
Position
- Draft Grade: C-
- School: Clemson
- Height: 6' 4"
- Weight: 294
Expert Commentary
Orhorhoro has some nice traits where he’ll have the chance to grow and develop into a nice, disruptive player, but it’s a little interesting that the Falcons felt like they needed to trade up for him. Perhaps their bet on his upside works, but it just didn’t seem like they needed to give up draft capital to pick him right outside the first round.
Bralen
Trice
3
Rnd
10
Pk
DE
Position
- Draft Grade: A
- Pre-Draft Rank: 54
- School: Washington
- Height: 6' 4"
- Weight: 245
Expert Commentary
Trice has real starter ability and the Falcons still need an edge rusher. Trice has a chance to become a solid rotational level player at the least, which is hard to find at edge at this point in the draft.
Brandon
Dorlus
4
Rnd
9
Pk
DE
Position
- Pre-Draft Rank: 47
- School: Oregon
- Height: 6' 3"
- Weight: 283
JD
Bertrand
5
Rnd
8
Pk
LB
Position
- School: Notre Dame
- Height: 6' 1"
- Weight: 233
Jase
McClellan
6
Rnd
10
Pk
RB
Position
- School: Alabama
- Height: 5' 10"
- Weight: 221
Casey
Washington
6
Rnd
11
Pk
WR
Position
- School: Illinois
- Height: 6' 2"
- Weight: 200
Zion
Logue
6
Rnd
21
Pk
DL
Position
- School: Georgia
- Height: 6' 6"
- Weight: 314
NFC South Standings
| W | L | T | Pct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | |
| 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | |
| 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | |
| 2 | 15 | 0 | .118 |
- y
- - Clinched Division
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