The Atlanta Falcons are hoping to make the playoffs this coming season with new quarterback Kirk Cousins being added to a decent cast that includes running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London.
But their defense needs reinforcements, especially up front, where they could use more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
David Helman of FOX Sports feels that with the No. 8 pick in Thursday’s draft, the Falcons should go with edge rusher Dallas Turner.
The #Falcons are the best home fit for Bama edge Dallas Turner, per @davidhelman_ ✍️
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— NFL on FOX Podcast (@NFLonFOXPod) April 23, 2024
Turner may not be considered the best edge rusher in this year’s draft — many feel that honor goes to Laiatu Latu from UCLA — but Turner is very good in his own right.
Turner had 10.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season while at the University of Alabama, and Helman pointed out that while he may have developed slowly in his three years there, he played behind Will Anderson Jr. prior to 2023.
Anderson ended up winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award this past season with the Houston Texans.
Since Atlanta has decent but not tremendous offensive talent, they will likely have to embrace winning on defense if they are to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
They have a new head coach in Raheem Morris, who had been the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator the previous three years, including when they won the Super Bowl championship in the 2021 season.
Interestingly, even though Atlanta has Cousins now, there have been some rumors they’re targeting a quarterback such as the University of Oregon’s Bo Nix in the draft this year.
