The Atlanta Falcons are a team stuck in the middle. Dan Quinn is back which means they will likely be average again in 2020. Matt Ryan is still playing well but will soon show signs of decline. It’s a good enough roster to win games but not good enough to be serious contenders. The 2020 NFL Draft is a turning point for the franchise. Let’s see what the Falcons may do during the 2020 NFL Draft by heading inside their war room.
Atlanta holds the 16th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Falcons have 6 picks this draft. Atlanta has two 4th round picks but no selections in the 5th or 6th round. The biggest noteworthy trade is when they essentially swapped Mohamed Sanu for a 2nd round pick and later shipped that pick to Baltimore for Hayden Hurst and a 4th round pick. The Falcons 2nd and 3rd round picks sit at 47 and 78 respectively.
I think Javon Kinlaw is the pick here. Atlanta really extended themselves for Dante Fowler. They also have Takk McKinley so the edge should be taken care of. However, imagine what Kinlaw does on the interior next to Grady Jarrett? A year ago, I think they really wanted Christian Wilkins. This year, if Kinlaw is on the board, they get that need taken care of. It’s hard not to like Kinlaw. The man is a monster.
This could be a third or 4th round pick but the Falcons have to get a linebacker. De’Vondre Campbell signed with the Cardinals this offseason. Deion Jones is the lone soldier. Two other linebacker spots are open. We will finish off the blog with two suggestions. How about Willie Gay out of Mississippi State? Big time recruit who had a monster combine. Gay has great speed for the position. Jacob Phillips of LSU is another. He had 113 tackles in 2019 and would give Atlanta a run stopper to go along with two speed demons. I think it could be a trio that works.
