2021 NFL Draft: 3 options for Atlanta Falcons first round pick

Option no. 2: Upgrade the defensive side of the ball

Now if the Falcons want to stick with Ryan and instead improve the team around him they have plenty of options to go with. With the roster in desperate need of some young talent, especially on the defensive side, the team has some flexibility on where they can choose to go.

The team is currently in need of help all across the defense, with additional needs at interior offensive line and running back. With a top five selection though the Falcons look to have most players available at their disposal. Perhaps the biggest needs are cornerback and pass rusher though. Luckily for the team there is a good amount of talent at EDGE rusher in this class that goes beyond day one. At corner the well dries up much faster, but some of the top guys are very intriguing.

It is still unclear who the top cornerback in this year’s class is and opinions will likely differ across the board this year. For me, I still currently value Virginia Tech corner Caleb Farley as a top prospect and worthy of this selection. He is in the running with Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II and a potential late rising contender for CB1 is South Carolina corner Jaycee Horn.

At pass rusher the options are much greater but the value is a little bit unsure in the top five. The class boasts the likes of Michigan’s Kwity Paye, Miami’s Gregory Rousseau, Georgia’s Azeez Oljuari, and many more but there does not seem to be a clear cut top guy this year.

Because of that you will likely see rankings differ across the internet, which is a good thing, but doesn’t help get a clear picture of who the Falcons specifically would draft. Right now Paye is who most lean towards but really it could come down to who the defensive coordinator is for the team and the type of pass rusher the front office wants.