After selecting A.J. Terrell in the first round, the Falcons can effectively knock corner off their shopping list. But which positions should the team target on the day two? Examining Atlanta’s roster, there aren’t really any pressing needs outside of maybe a starting strong-side linebacker and a player to compete at what is already a competitive left guard spot.
Here are the top players remaining based on their fits with the Falcons.
DBs Antoine Winfield or Grant Delpit
Atlanta could use some competition at safety. Winfield and Delpit were some of the best safeties in the draft this year in terms of pure deep-ball ability. With the Falcons switching to Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator, we should all be expecting more cover-two looks.
DL A.J. Epenesa
A.J. Epenesa would be a bit redundant to Allen Bailey and John Cominsky, but the Falcons would see him as too good to pass up. Epenesa could come in right away and compete for a role at either nickel defensive tackle or strong-side defensive end in base. Atlanta could instantly slot him into the role that Jack Crawford played for the last three seasons and improve on it.
EDGEs Yetur Gross-Matos and Julian Okwara
The Falcons could still use some pass rush after selecting a corner in the first round and taking either Yetur Gross-Matos or Julian Okwara in the second would be a good start. Both were considered first-round talent earlier in the process and could have been good selections for Atlanta at 16 prior to the combine.
DL Justin Madubuike and Ross Blacklock
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was one of the players the Falcons could have been looking at heavily at 16, but he was taken just two picks earlier by the 49ers. Now, they have some talented players still left in the form of both Justin Madubuike and Ross Blacklock. Both of these guys are good enough to trade up for, but the Falcons have a lot of options and should just go with the best player available at a position of need in the second round.
OL Josh Jones
The Falcons have a need to improve their left guard position. Josh Jones is a great pass blocker with experience at both guard and tackle. He could be a massive improvement over James Carpenter or Jamon Brown at left guard. Jones has solid power in the running game as well. This would be a bit of a surprise if he’s there at 47, but the Falcons should sprint to the podium to select him if he is.
OL Lloyd Cushenberry and Matt Hennessey
The Falcons could look towards a guy who would be a perfect replacement for Alex Mack after the 2020 season while still competing at left guard during his rookie year. Both Cushenberry and Hennessey have the skill-set and size to be perfect fits in Atlanta’s mixed blocking scheme and getting them in a year early would allow the team to train them under one of the best in Alex Mack.
EDGE/LB Josh Uche
The Falcons let De’Vondre Campbell walk during the offseason. With the need at strong-side linebacker being a bit glaring, Josh Uche could be the perfect fit for what the team needs. Uche is more of a linebacker on first down and rotational pass rusher after on second and third. But he could be an instant-impact player for Atlanta on day one in base sets and provide the team with some solid snaps in nickel sets too.
