Atlanta Falcons: Top team needs heading into 2020 NFL Draft

Edge Rusher

It’s easy to see that Vic Beasley and the Atlanta Falcons were not a fit. After an outlier season in 2016, Beasley hasn’t seemed to play up to expectations. Beasley has now signed a one-year deal to play in Tennessee. With his departure, a starting spot on the edge has opened up.

Away from Beasley, the Falcons have had Takkarist McKinley starting on the other side. This, too, hasn’t been a situation that has lived up to expectations. With a decision to soon be made on where to pick up McKinley’s fifth-year option or not looming, there could soon be an even more glaring hole at that position soon.

The Atlanta Falcons have been desperate to bring in a consistent starting defensive end. There’s no question that they have spent a ton of draft capital to take swings at some developmental guys, but none of them have seemed to pan out. The frustration has set in and pressure is being put on from Falcons fan to bring in a guy that they can rely on to contend for double-digit sacks every season.

There’s no secret that the edge position is sparse in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Atlanta Falcons realistically have two options: take a full-time starter in the first-round in K’Lavon Chaisson or even Yetur Gross-Matos or take multiple developmental pieces in the middle-to-late rounds of the draft. Players like Julian Okwara, Bradlee Anae, Jonathan Greenard, and Kenny Willekes come to mind as guys who can make a contribution early on outside of the first round.

Other notable position needs for the Atlanta Falcons are a left guard, a third wide-receiver target, and another off-ball linebacker to compliment Deion Jones.