Falcons take EDGE Dallas Turner in ESPN’s latest mock draft

After addressing their biggest need in free agency, the Atlanta Falcons can go into the 2024 NFL draft without being pigeon-holed into taking a quarterback in the first round. Kirk Cousins signed a four-year contract and the Falcons are going all in to win in 2024.

The team has already added multiple receivers, including Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore, upgraded at tight end, and brought back a few reserve offensive linemen. Now, Atlanta must focus on upgrading its defense.

Cornerback Jeff Okudah signed with Houston in free agency while defensive lineman Calais Campbell remains unsigned. This leaves cornerback and edge rusher as the team’s biggest remaining needs.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper released a new mock draft that projects the Falcons to add to their defense. Kiper has Atlanta taking Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner with the No. 8 pick:

This is another pairing that makes too much sense. It’s a combo of biggest positional need and best available prospect, as Turner is No. 9 on my Big Board. The Falcons, of course, made the biggest splash in free agency by signing quarterback Kirk Cousins, but their defense is mostly the same. They have to get better along the defensive line; as I mentioned in my Mock Draft 2.0, they ranked last in the league in pass rush win rate (30.9%) last season.

Turner had 22.5 sacks over three college seasons and he improved his pressure rates every season. He’s the clear No. 1 edge rusher in this class. New coach Raheem Morris would get the best out of him. – Mel Kiper, ESPN

Landing Turner would be a great first step to revamping this defense. Atlanta hired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake over the offseason and the team plans to run a 3-4 base defense in 2024.

Turner, who’s more of an outside linebacker than a defensive end, would be a good fit in Lake’s system. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree tied for the team lead in sacks last season.

Assuming the Falcons don’t bring Dupree back at some point, Turner could step into that role as a rookie. He has long arms and tested well at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Dallas Turner is a DE prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.49 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 85 out of 1637 DE from 1987 to 2024.

Splits projectedhttps://t.co/X7XBHHYnU5 pic.twitter.com/yifaeEgv5F

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 1, 2024

Turner has a top-30 draft visit scheduled with the Falcons, according to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. In our latest mock draft, Atlanta trades down and addresses its front seven.

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