The Falcons haven’t recorded a sack in three weeks and coincidentally, they haven’t won a game since their Week 2 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Early in the season, it was the offense costing the team games. After allowing 87 points over the past two weeks, though, Dan Quinn’s defense has come under intense scrutiny.
Atlanta desperately needs to get its pass rush back on track. If the team can’t turn things around this season, it will at least have a top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Currently, the Falcons are on pace for pick No. 4 — which Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling has them using on Ohio State defensive end Chase Young in his latest mock:
This is a huge scoop for the Falcons, who land arguably the best overall player in the entire draft at a position that could use an upgrade. Vic Beasley and Takkarist McKinley have been inconsistent at best, while Young has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks consistently for two seasons.
Young has 21 tackles, 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in six games for the Buckeyes in 2019. Last season, he had 10.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss.
Young’s consistency over the past two seasons at one of the country’s elite college football programs pretty much ensures he will be a top-five pick in 2020.
With Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley in a three-year slump, it seems unlikely the team will re-sign him. If Atlanta chooses to let Beasley walk, Young would be a perfect replacement.
