7-Round Mock Draft: Atlanta Falcons Build Around Desmond Ridder By Bolstering Defense
By Evan Bachman
The latest mock draft for the Atlanta Falcons is here! In this edition, general manager Terry Fontenot opts to build around Desmond Ridder by bolstering the defensive side of the ball.
With losses in five of the last six games, Atlanta has seen its record slip to 5-9, effectively ending all postseason aspirations. Being in the NFC South means the Falcons are only a game back of the division leading Buccaneers, so they’re not *technically* eliminated yet.
However, it is very clear that this is a team simply not ready to compete yet. They have a dire need for more talent on both sides of the ball. This is evident by the fact that the team ranks in the bottom-five in yards per game and yards allowed per game. So, without further ado, let’s project what the Atlanta Falcons 2023 NFL Draft could look like in April with a fresh mock draft.
All stats come from PFF Premium Stats.
Mock Draft: Atlanta Falcons Bolster Roster Around Desmond Ridder
Round 1, 7th Overall: Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
The big question heading into the 2023 NFL Draft for the Atlanta Falcons centers around whether they take a quarterback or not. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me for them to make a move a quarterback of the future. However, I’m expecting Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud to be off the board by this point in the draft. Plus, with Will Levis’ struggles this season, I am not projecting him to go in the top-ten picks of this mock draft.
With Desmond Ridder on the roster, I think the front office would be comfortable giving him a year to see what they have behind center, before deciding whether a move for a quarterback is necessary or not. The biggest need on the roster — aside from quarterback — is the pass rush, in particular at edge rusher. Through 14 games this season, the Atlanta Falcons have recorded only19 sacks, which is the second worst in the NFL.
In this scenario, the Atlanta Falcons add a talented edge rusher in Myles Murphy. He is a former five-star recruit in the 2020 class and has been a productive player for the Tigers since arriving on campus. Murphy has an ideal frame for an edge rusher at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds with long arms. The best component to his game is power, as Murphy can win with bull rushes in pass rush and also toss linemen around in the run game. Additionally, the Clemson product has some bend and dip around the edge in his pass rush arsenal. All of these tools make him project well to the NFL as a pass rusher.