Falcons’ needs in the draft
Quarterback:Matt Ryan isn’t going anywhere any time soon. But he’s all the Falcons have. Ryan restructured his contract this offseason, creating some needed cap space for Atlanta while pushing even more dead money into the future. His cap hit is more than $40 million each in 2022 and 2023, making it hard to move him. Still, the Falcons at the very least need QB depth. The No. 4 pick is a prime spot to find a quarterback of the future, and it’s not too early to think about life after Ryan.
Edge:Atlanta has had issues finding a consistent, quality pass rush. The Falcons could find help here and add more draft capital by trading out of the No. 4 pick. They’ve made a lot of moves to tinker with their defensive ends and outside linebackers this offseason, but they don’t have the money to find a top-tier pass rusher in free agency. They have to make an effort in the draft, even though they’ve struggled here for quite some time.