A closer look at the areas the Atlanta Falcons could address in the draft. We’ll get started Monday with a look at the pass-rushers, who are scheduled to work out Sunday in Indianapolis
Position of need: Pass-rusher. The Falcons sorely need to upgrade their pass-rushers after finishing with the league's worst third-down defense last season and managing just 22 sacks, which ranked tied for 30th in the league. New head coach Dan Quinn was used to getting consistent pressure from his front four while the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. New Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith said sacks are important, something the previous coaching staff didn't always buy into. No matter what, the Falcons have to find a away to affect opposing quarterbacks and move them off their spot. And the Falcons need to take the pressure off their defensive backs, who have grown accustomed to having to cover for an eternity.
Three players the Falcons could target with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft:
Arik Armstead (DE), Oregon: ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay both had the Falcons selecting Armstead in their most recent mock drafts. Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 290 pounds, Armstead has the length and athleticism Quinn desires from a pass-rusher. Armstead brings speed and power off the edge, something the Falcons sorely missed the last few seasons. He would be a solid pick but also somewhat of a project. This past season for the Ducks, Armstead had 2.5 sacks, six quarterback hits and 5.5 tackles for loss. His skills are still raw, being that he spent time on the Oregon basketball team. Some have compared Armstead to Calais Campbell of the Arizona Cardinals, no doubt based on their similar frames. We'll see if he develops into an All-Pro player like Campbell.
Shane Ray (DE), Missouri: Ray has been projected to be the first edge rusher off the board, potentially to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 3. But you never know how things will fall into place in the draft, so there’s always a chance he could land with the Falcons. His quickness and ability to counter has impressed observers the most. Those familiar with the Falcons as of late aren’t used to seeing pass-rushers with solid counter moves. The 6-2, 240-pound Ray might not be the tall, rangy-type player such as Armstead, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play with length. And with the Falcons looking to improve team speed and toughness, having a pass-rusher who reportedly ran a 4.44 in the 40 and bench presses 400 pounds is a nice luxury. Ray had 14.5 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, five quarterback hits and three forced fumbles this past season.
Dante Fowler Jr. (DE), Florida: Fowler was the guy most associated with the Falcons when the mock draft process first started. It probably makes even more sense now considering Fowler has a direct tie to the Falcons. Quinn was the defensive coordinator at Florida for two seasons and was instrumental in Fowler's recruitment. In fact, Quinn mentioned his affection for Fowler and his family when asked about the young prospect while preparing for the Super Bowl. In Quinn’s scheme, Fowler could play the LEO as a stand-up pass-rusher, like Bruce Irvin did for the Seahawks. Kiper says Fowler isn’t dominant in one particular area but does everything well. Plus Quinn, a defensive line guru, could elevate Fowler's pass-rush ability to another level. Fowler had 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles this past season.