The Atlanta Falcons are in a unique spot as we approach the 2025 NFL draft. They don’t have much draft capital (five total picks), but Falcons could still potentially trade veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins for an additional pick on Day 2 or Day 3.
According to a new report from ESPN, Atlanta has privately discussed moving Cousins with a few teams ahead of the draft. The compensation could vary based on the amount of Cousins salary the Falcons are willing to pay, per Schefter.
Trading down is another potential option for Atlanta, assuming there’s a team that wants to move up to pick No. 15. For now though, the Falcons have just two top-100 picks, one fourth-round pick and two seventh-rounders. If the team walks away from the draft with at least two starters, that would have to be considered a win for Terry Fontenot.
Pro Football Focus released a new seven-round mock draft that features 32 contributors making picks on behalf of each NFL team. PFF’s Khaled Elsayed made all five picks for the Falcons, starting with Marshall EDGE Mike Green in Round 1.
“The Falcons come into another draft needing help off the edge, and Green offers tantalizing, elite production,” wrote Elsayed. “He graded above 90.0 as a pass rusher and a run defender, in addition to boasting a pass-rush win rate over 20% and a run-stop rate over 9%. He also allayed fears about his competition level at Marshall with a standout performance at the Senior Bowl.”
Green is a blue-chip caliber talent, and someone the Falcons could start on Day 1. In Round 2 of PFF”s mock draft, Atlanta lands another potential starter in Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston. PFF points out Hairston’s impressive 2023 campaign.
“Hairston missed the middle portion of the 2024 season but was outstanding in 2023 at Kentucky, recording five interceptions, eight forced incompletions and an 85.3 coverage grade — placing him in the same range as 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold,” explained Elsayed.
The Falcons don’t have a third-round pick but land another front-seven prospect in Round 4 of PFF’s mock draft, taking Central Arkansas edge David Walker. While there isn’t a breakdown of the selection, Walker was highly productive over the last three seasons.
In 2022, he dominated with 16 sacks and 31 hurries for the Bears. Last season, he racked up 12 sacks and 37 hurries while earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 94.6. The level of competition may not have been great, but Walker dominated consistently and would be a good value for Atlanta here in Round 4.
In the seventh round, the Falcons were projected to take Miami wide receiver Samuel Brown at pick No. 218 and Alabama A&M offensive lineman Carson Vinson with pick No. 242. Check out PFF’s full mock draft HERE.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFL mock draft: Falcons upgrade pass rush in 7-round projections
The Atlanta Falcons are in a unique spot as we approach the 2025 NFL draft. They don’t have much draft capital (five total picks), but Falcons could still potentially trade veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins for an additional pick on Day 2 or Day 3.
According to a new report from ESPN, Atlanta has privately discussed moving Cousins with a few teams ahead of the draft. The compensation could vary based on the amount of Cousins salary the Falcons are willing to pay, per Schefter.
Trading down is another potential option for Atlanta, assuming there’s a team that wants to move up to pick No. 15. For now though, the Falcons have just two top-100 picks, one fourth-round pick and two seventh-rounders. If the team walks away from the draft with at least two starters, that would have to be considered a win for Terry Fontenot.
Pro Football Focus released a new seven-round mock draft that features 32 contributors making picks on behalf of each NFL team. PFF’s Khaled Elsayed made all five picks for the Falcons, starting with Marshall EDGE Mike Green in Round 1.
“The Falcons come into another draft needing help off the edge, and Green offers tantalizing, elite production,” wrote Elsayed. “He graded above 90.0 as a pass rusher and a run defender, in addition to boasting a pass-rush win rate over 20% and a run-stop rate over 9%. He also allayed fears about his competition level at Marshall with a standout performance at the Senior Bowl.”
Green is a blue-chip caliber talent, and someone the Falcons could start on Day 1. In Round 2 of PFF”s mock draft, Atlanta lands another potential starter in Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston. PFF points out Hairston’s impressive 2023 campaign.
“Hairston missed the middle portion of the 2024 season but was outstanding in 2023 at Kentucky, recording five interceptions, eight forced incompletions and an 85.3 coverage grade — placing him in the same range as 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold,” explained Elsayed.
The Falcons don’t have a third-round pick but land another front-seven prospect in Round 4 of PFF’s mock draft, taking Central Arkansas edge David Walker. While there isn’t a breakdown of the selection, Walker was highly productive over the last three seasons.
In 2022, he dominated with 16 sacks and 31 hurries for the Bears. Last season, he racked up 12 sacks and 37 hurries while earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 94.6. The level of competition may not have been great, but Walker dominated consistently and would be a good value for Atlanta here in Round 4.
In the seventh round, the Falcons were projected to take Miami wide receiver Samuel Brown at pick No. 218 and Alabama A&M offensive lineman Carson Vinson with pick No. 242. Check out PFF’s full mock draft HERE.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFL mock draft: Falcons upgrade pass rush in 7-round projections
