2020 NFL Draft: 5 Prospects Atlanta Falcons should target with no. 16 pick

The Falcons only recorded 28 sacks this season, which was tied for 29th in the NFL, so adding pass rushers is a top priority this offseason. It also doesn’t help matters that Vic Beasley and Adrian Clayborn are both free agents.

Yetur Gross-Matos could step right in and start for the Falcons. He has excellent tools with a big frame (6-foot-5, 264 pounds), long arms, and good athleticism. His best attribute is how well he uses his hands. He wins many pass rushes by tossing the opposing lineman’s arms off of him to the outside and then going inside to create pressure. He is also good against the run because he wins many leverage battles with his strength and hand usage.

Gross-Matos can line up at mulitple positions along the defensive line. He primarily plays at five-technique but he also has taken snaps at three-tech and on the nose. He also has experience dropping into coverage. He will primarily be used on the edge rushing the passer in the NFL, but it’s good that he has the versatility to line up all over the defensive line or drop into coverage.

He produced well for Penn State throughout his last two seasons. In 2018 he had 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 13 games and in 2019 he had 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. That production may not translate to the NFL right away, but he has the traits to turn into a pro-bowl level player.