Falcons take Alabama EDGE in Mel Kiper’s first 2024 mock draft

The Atlanta Falcons may be busy searching for their next head coach, but the 2024 NFL draft is just around the corner. For the third consecutive season, the Falcons are slated for the eighth overall pick. Will the team find a new quarterback, or go in a different direction?

Three quarterbacks are currently projected to go in the top 10, but all three may be gone by the time the Falcons are on the clock. That’s what happens in Mel Kiper’s first mock draft of the year, which has the Bears taking Caleb Williams, the Commanders picking Jayden Daniels, and the Patriots landing Drake Maye.

When Atlanta’s pick came around, Kiper focused on the defensive side of the ball.

Kiper projects Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner to ATL

Here we go, another team in the top 10 that hasn’t yet hired its new coach. The good thing about this projection: I don’t have another quarterback with a top-10 grade, so I’m not going to force one to Atlanta. I wonder if it might be a trade suitor for Justin Fields or instead look to the free agent market for Kirk Cousins or cut candidate Russell Wilson. (If the Falcons hire Jim Harbaugh, I reserve my right to predict Michigan signal-caller J.J. McCarthy to join his former coach.) — Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

Turner's 2023 stats

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

• 53 tackles (28 solo)
• 11 sacks
• 33 hurries
• 81.6 PFF grade
• 89.3 pass-rush grade

Turner Highlights

Dallas Turner 2021 numbers

(30 tackles) (10 TFL)
{8.5 sacks}
[1 fumble recovery]

What a season for the true freshman edge rusher, game planning against him and Will Anderson Jr in 2022 will come OC's up at night.@SSN_Alabama @FQAlabama @aterry65 pic.twitter.com/nGQm9IyHSY

— CFBLIVE247 (@CFBLive247_) February 13, 2022