Atlanta Falcons

Whether or not the Atlanta Falcons won the 2020 NFL draft remains to be seen, but their second-round draft pick is clearly in the running for the best soundbite of the event. 

After Auburn defensive end Marlon Davidson was selected 47th overall on Friday, the former Tiger explained why Atlanta should be excited for his arrival:

Marlon Davidson: “When they pulled me out of the womb I was destined for greatness.”

— Jason Butt (@JasonHButt) April 25, 2020

At 6'3", 303 pounds, Davidson certainly has the size of an NFL player. In 2019, he recorded 48 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass deflection. He's an absolute show-stopper on the defensive line who has the playing style—and the quips—to become a fan favorite with the Falcons. 

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked Davidson his 37th-best player overall and the fourth-best interior defensive lineman in his class. 

As his NFL career gets underway, he'll walk into Atlanta's facilities knowing his success was predetermined.  

The Atlanta Falcons improved their defensive line by selecting Auburn's Marlon Davidson with the No. 47 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.  

The second-round pick should start high on the depth chart for his new team.

           

LDE: Marlon Davidson*, Allen Bailey, John Cominsky

DT: Grady Jarrett

DT: Tyeler Davison, Deadrin Senat

RDE: Takkarist McKinley, Austin Larkin

OLB: Foyesade Oluokun, LaRoy Reynolds

MLB: Deion Jones, Ahmad Thomas

OLB: Dante Fowler, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner

CB: A.J. Terrell, Jordan Miller, Blidi-Wreh Wilson

CB: Isaiah Oliver, Kendall Sheffield

FS: Ricardo Allen, Sharrod Neasman

SS: Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee

    

Depth chart info provided by Ourlads and Over the Cap.

          

Davidson spent the past few years playing alongside Derrick Brown, but he was often able to shine on his own. He finished last season with 48 tackles, including 11.5 for loss, with 6.5 sacks.

The 6'3", 303-pounder showed good athleticism for his size with a 40-yard dash time of 5.04 seconds at the NFL combine, displaying the type of versatility that could allow him to play multiple spots along the defensive line.

While he has spent time at both end and tackle, his physicality could make him best suited on the interior. In either case, he can excel with his ability to win matchups against opposing linemen.

No one impressed me more today than Marlon Davidson. At 297 pounds he dominated in team and one-on-one drills. Can understand why there is legitimate Round 1 buzz on him the last two weeks. He's a baller.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 21, 2020

The Falcons already have reliable options on the defensive line in Grady Jarrett and Tyeler Davison, plus an elite pass-rusher in Dante Fowler. Still, the team needed more depth after last year's inconsistency on that end.

Davidson could make a quick transition to the NFL and see early action in Atlanta even if he doesn't start in Week 1.

The rookie should be able to carve a role for himself in 2020 and excel alongside the other quality options in the front-seven.

DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn

   

STRENGTHS

—Can rush the passer from the inside of a 4-3 defense as a 3-tech or outside in a 3-4 defense as an end; has even played standing up on the end of the line. 

—Keeps his eyes up and ready so he can make plays in the run game or swat low passes. 

—Sets good containment on the edge with strength and enough quickness in his feet to track down runners. 

—Not many players his size can bend the edge like he does. 

—Can move inside to be an interior pass-rusher on third down and obvious passing situations. 

   

WEAKNESSES

—Struggles to disengage from stronger blockers. 

—Opposing offensive lines keyed in on Derrick Brown, which freed Davidson up to make plays against one-on-one blocks. 

—Weighed in at 303 pounds at the combine but was listed at 278 at Auburn.

—Needs to play with more strength and desire against the run; most of his production comes on passing downs. 

   

OVERALL

Davidson is an aggressive, physical defensive lineman who can play anywhere from a 1-technique to a 5-technique and will be scheme-versatile. He's a bit more potential than production at this stage, but the predraft process showed his upside as a pass-rusher along the defensive line. He has the tools to be a rookie starter.

   

GRADE: 87

PRO COMPARISON: Grady Jarrett/Jurrell Casey

The Atlanta Falcons have drafted former Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell at No. 16 overall Thursday.

Terrell will immediately impact the secondary based on Atlanta's updated depth chart:

        

Depth Chart

LDE: Allen Bailey, John Cominsky

DT: Grady Jarrett

DT: Tyeler Davison, Deadrin Senat

RDE: Takkarist McKinley, Austin Larkin

OLB: Foyesade Oluokun, LaRoy Reynolds

MLB: Deion Jones, Ahmad Thomas

OLB: Dante Fowler, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner

CB: A.J. Terrell, Jordan Miller, Blidi-Wreh Wilson

CB: Isaiah Oliver, Kendall Sheffield

FS: Ricardo Allen, Sharrod Neasman

SS: Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee

    

Depth chart info provided by Ourlads and Over the Cap.

The Falcons released veteran starting cornerback Desmond Trufant, and he signed with the Detroit Lions in free agency. The 29-year-old led Atlanta with four interceptions last season.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler reported on April 17 that teams with picks in the top 16 were keeping tabs on Terrell:

If AJ Terrell is available. Several teams in the top-16 picks have their eyes on the Clemson CB.

Terrell is going to go higher than most think. https://t.co/3Y6x7cWZtn

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 17, 2020

On his final big board, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked Terrell as the 36th-best overall prospect and fifth-best cornerback in this class.

Terrell struggled in coverage against LSU's Ja'Marr Chase during January's College Football Playoff National Championship Game, which Clemson lost 42-25, but the 6'1", 195-pounder was mostly dominant over the course of his collegiate career:

Highest-graded cornerbacks in Cover 0 and Cover 1 concepts over the past two seasons (2018-19), per @PFF.

1. Trajan Bandy
2. Amik Robertson
3. Jeff Okudah
4. A.J. Terrell
5. Trevon Diggs
6. Kristian Fulton

— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) March 24, 2020

Highest-graded draft-eligible cornerbacks in single coverage (2018-19):

1. Amik Robertson 👀
2. Trevon Diggs
3. Kristian Fulton
4. Jeff Gladney
5. Jeffrey Okudah

8. Jaylon Johnson
9. A.J. Terrell

11. Damon Arnette

— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) March 21, 2020

Terrell was named first-team All-ACC after recording two interceptions, 0.5 sacks and 34 tackles across 14 games as a junior in 2019. His most impressive statistical campaign came as a sophomore in 2018 with career highs in picks (three), forced fumbles (two) and tackles (53, including 40 solo).

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein likened Terrell's potential to New York Jets cornerback Pierre Desir:

"Long, press-man cornerback with thin lowers, but good overall size. Terrell has the foot agility and patience to pedal and mirror the release or jab and ride on it aggressively. He's an above-average athlete with quick burst to close out space in tight quarters, but he's not a classic click-and-close talent from off-man and issues with balance prevent sudden stops to shadow at the top of the route. The size and ability to hound 50/50 balls deserve recognition, but he lacks ballhawking traits, which could cap him as an average future starter."

Terrell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds while also recording a 34.5-inch vertical jump and 129-inch broad jump.

The former 4-star prospect's skill set figures to improve the Falcons' 22nd-ranked passing defense that tied for 17th with 12 interceptions last season. 

STRENGTHS

—Long, fast, man-coverage cornerback who excels down the field and has shown the ball skills to become a top-tier starter.

—Uses his length well to stab at the ball and break up passes.

—Easy mover who stays hip-to-hip on vertical routes but is also rarely out of position when asked to break on the ball.

—Excellent click-and-close agility for a big cornerback.

—Battle-tested against not only ACC wide receivers but the best of the best in the College Football Playoff over the last two seasons.

   

WEAKNESSES

—Everyone remembers his last performance; LSU's Ja'Marr Chase bested him for two touchdowns in the national title game.

—Not very physical down the field.

—Would rather make a leaping grab than fight for positioning and break up passes.

—Missed tackles and uneven performance against the run often show up on tape.

    

OVERALL

Don't judge Terrell by his performance in the national title game—Chase and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow roasted a lot of good cornerbacks in 2019. Instead, look at Terrell's full body of work, which is already good with a ceiling to get even better. Once he adds strength to his long, athletic frame, he has the tools to be a great starter and a scheme-versatile performer.

    

GRADE: 88

PRO COMPARISON: Kyle Fuller/James Bradberry

The Atlanta Falcons are looking to move up in Thursday's first round of the NFL draft and have reached out to Washington to gauge its interest in moving the No. 2 overall selection, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer: 

Falcons been aggressive this week in calling teams high up, including trying to get all the way to #2 for Chase Young. WASH hasn’t seemed to entertain offers to get out @NFLonFOX

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 23, 2020

Glazer reported that while Atlanta has been aggressive, Washington hasn't seemed interested in trading down.  

Ohio State defensive end Chase Young is expected to become the second player taken after LSU quarterback Joe Burrow when the draft kicks off. 

The Falcons are currently slated to make their first pick at No. 16 overall, however, they do own two fourth-round picks. Atlanta has already added an edge rusher by agreeing to a three-year, $48 million deal with Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency. 

That hasn't stopped the team from looking to add at the position, apparently. Especially with a potential generational talent like Young up for grabs. One thing that's especially noteworthy here, however, is that it appears the report of Atlanta's interest is coming straight from Washington. 

"Washington Redskins sources tell me that many teams—including teams all the way back like the Atlanta Falcons. They actually called trying to trade all the way up to No. 2 to draft Chase Young," Glazer reported. "Chase Young is regarded as possibly the best prospect to come out on that side of the ball in the last 10 years."

.@jayglazer reports that some teams, including the Falcons, have shown interest in trading up to the No. 2 spot to draft Chase Young. pic.twitter.com/vfg6F43WQC

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) April 23, 2020

There have been plenty of rumors surrounding what the Miami Dolphins might do with the No. 5 pick as well as reported offers for the Detroit Lions to trade down from No. 3. This marks this first time since the NFL Combine the No. 2 pick has been openly discussed. 

Even still, Glazer makes it clear Washington has little interest in moving down. With head coach Ron Rivera entering his first year with the franchise, taking a player he can build around on defense like Young makes plenty of sense. 

4. Are the Falcons really trying to trade up?

A: YES! The Falcons want to move up and have for some time. If they can get it done is another question. I've heard CJ Henderson for them but they L-O-V-E Chase Young.

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 23, 2020

That didn't stop Atlanta from doing its due diligence. It just reportedly hasn't amounted to much. 

The Atlanta Falcons "appear ready to make a huge leap" from the No. 16 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport reported the Falcons have reached out to teams in the top 10 of the first round about a possible trade.

Rapoport speculated Atlanta might be targeting a defensive player, something ESPN's Jeremy Fowler echoed on Twitter:

Still some buzz about Browns moving back, Falcons moving up for D help. Calls over next two days will determine levels of movement.

Looming large is inevitable WR run. I'm told some of top guys at position could see that starting as early as 9 (Jax), or definitely the teens

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 21, 2020

In particular, moving up would allow the Falcons a better shot at landing one of the top cornerbacks. In his most recent mock draft, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller had Ohio State's Jeff Okudah to the Detroit Lions at No. 3 and Florida's CJ Henderson to Atlanta with the 16th pick.

Missing out on Okudah or Henderson could mean a noticeable drop in quality.

Okudah and Henderson were third and 14th overall in Miller's most recent top-50 player rankings. TCU's Jeff Gladney is the third-best corner and comes in at No. 24 overall.

If Atlanta's front office isn't fixated on a cornerback, then defensive line might be the area of focus. The unit finished last season 19th in adjusted line yards and 28th in adjusted sack rate, per Football Outsiders.

Should that be the case, a trade might be necessary to secure the services of Auburn's Derrick Brown (No. 8 overall in Miller's rankings) or South Carolina's Javon Kinlaw (No. 10).

The Falcons don't own any fifth- or sixth-round picks, but they have the Nos. 16, 47, 78 and 119 overall selections. If Atlanta trades up, it would likely have to sacrifice a lot of flexibility to add pieces in the middle of the draft. 

Atlanta Falcons defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. said Tuesday that facing Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is still a significant challenge as the future Hall of Famer plays into his 40s.

Fowler appeared on ESPN's First Take to discuss going against Brady during their stays with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots, respectively:

"Brady goes into every game like it's the Super Bowl. I played against him in the AFC Championship with the Jaguars, I was able to get to him twice. Then the next year, we played against him, that was my first game back from serving a one-game suspension and I came back, sacked him, kind of changed the game. But that Super Bowl, it was just different, the way he operated, the way he was on time, it was just different.

"I know that's how it's going to be in Tampa Bay. He's going to have a great offensive line that's going to protect him and he's going to try to get the ball off fast or he's going to do what he does best and check down to a running back. So you just have to get there, have to work together, have to rush together as a team and do what you gotta do to rattle him. Touch his fingers, get him off balance, just to not have him get throws that he throws, because he's dangerous, even at 42."

Fowler and Brady are among the arrivals to what should be a highly competitive NFC South.

The 25-year-old Florida native recorded 27.5 sacks across 63 appearances for the Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams over four years after missing his rookie season with a torn ACL.

He signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Falcons this offseason, and he'll be expected to provide a major boost to a defense that finished tied for 29th with 28 sacks in 2019.

One of Fowler's biggest tasks will be trying to chase down Brady, who joined the Bucs on a two-year, $50 million deal, in the two head-to-head meetings with Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers have one of the league's most potent offenses on paper. Brady will lead a group featuring wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, tight ends Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard and running back Ronald Jones II.

Add in the New Orleans Saints, who've captured three straight division titles, and the Carolina Panthers, who are prime bounce-back candidates after adding Teddy Bridgewater and Robby Anderson to reinvigorate the offense, and NFC South could be the league's toughest division.

Saints head coach Sean Payton discussed Brady's arrival to the division in March:

"I don't know that it was that surprising. A lot of times you're kind of behind the scenes in the know relative to where a player like him is going. He's someone that we've got great respect for and obviously he's going to change the bar there. That's the one thing, it's the one player that travels somewhere and it's not, man, we've got to face this really talented player. And that's something that you have to obviously deal with. The thing that is most troubling is you just know he's going to raise the bar relative to how that team then performs. We were on a text not too long ago and I finished my text back to him with hashtag keep the canons quiet. He kind of chuckled and I think that's the one thing he'll bring in such a unique way is his competitive fire. All those things that'll elevate the play of the whole organization."

The NFC playoff race should be intense, with few teams in the conference not expected to at least be competitive in 2020. It's going to make every game important, especially for teams in the NFC South, which won't have many, if any, easy games on their schedule.

Atlanta Falcons fans selected LSU edge-rusher K'Lavon Chaisson with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft as part of Bleacher Report's user mock draft Saturday.

Voting was conducted on the B/R app. Here's a look at the results so far:

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow (QB, LSU)
2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young (DE, Ohio State)
3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah (CB, Ohio State)
4. New York Giants: Isaiah Simmons (LB, Clemson)
5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama)
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Jedrick Wills Jr. (OT, Alabama)
7. Carolina Panthers: Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn)
8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs (OL, Iowa)
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jerry Jeudy (WR, Alabama)
10. Cleveland Browns: Andrew Thomas (OT, Georgia)
11. New York Jets: Mekhi Becton (OT, Louisville)
12. Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb (WR, Oklahoma)
13. San Francisco 49ers: Henry Ruggs III (WR, Alabama)
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Javon Kinlaw (DT, South Carolina)
15. Denver Broncos: CJ Henderson (CB, Florida)
16. Atlanta Falcons: K'Lavon Chaisson (EDGE, LSU)

Chaisson put together a breakthrough season with the Tigers in 2019. He tallied 60 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, two passes defended and a forced fumble in 13 appearances for LSU, which went undefeated to capture the national championship.

The 20-year-old Houston native would slot in as a Day 1 starter for the Falcons, which could leave Allen Bailey and Takkarist McKinley to compete for limited snaps on the edge.

The Falcons fell short of the playoffs for the second straight year in 2019. They have posted a 7-9 record each of the past two seasons, a major disappointment for an organization with a franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan that made it to the Super Bowl at the end of the 2016 campaign.

Title windows are often directly related to having a high-end QB in place. Along with Ryan, Atlanta features an offense with wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley and running back Todd Gurley, who signed with the team after making three Pro Bowl appearances in five years with the Los Angeles Rams.

In addition to Gurley, the Falcons also signed edge-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. away from the Rams in free agency to bolster a defense that finished tied for 29th with 28 sacks last season.

Whether those additions, along with the projected first-round selection of Chaisson, would be enough to keep pace in the highly competitive NFC South remains a question mark, though.

The New Orleans Saints have won the division three straight times and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are an emerging championship threat after signing longtime New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

It'll put a lot of pressure on Ryan and Co. to produce a bounce-back season in 2020. Their selections in the draft, which takes place from April 23 to 25, could be crucial in those efforts.

The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly preparing to "make some noise" with a potential trade up from the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, which begins April 23.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the update Wednesday:

GM Thomas Dimitroff famously sent a huge package of picks (including a future first rounder) for Julio Jones in 2011, and a move this year may not be as dramatic. But they are a team to watch. https://t.co/hfTwi7qlaa

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 15, 2020

The Falcons are coming off a disappointing 7-9 season in 2019. Being caught in the middle—not good enough to make the playoffs, but recording too many wins to secure a high draft pick—is often the worst residence for professional sports teams.

That's especially true for an organization like Atlanta, which should be in the midst of a championship window with a franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan and an elite playmaker in wide receiver Julio Jones. They added running back Todd Gurley in free agency to further bolster the offense.

The Falcons' most glaring needs are on the defensive side. Most notably, they could use another premier edge-rusher and need to fill holes at cornerback and defensive tackle.

Dimitroff discussed the team's approach heading into the draft last week:

"We do believe, definitely, it is need and fit, that's important for us. Best player on the board works into it, if you have two or three positions that you do need. Hopefully, you're going to go with the best player at that position, unless there is a completely disjointed set up. Meaning, if we needed a position exponentially more than another position, and we weren't going to go with the best player at another position."

If the front office is exploring a trade up from No. 16, it's most likely going to target one of the draft's top edge players.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller ranked Ohio State's Chase Young (No. 1 overall prospect), LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson (No. 9) and Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos (No. 21) as the top edge-rushers on his latest big board in a draft limited on elite prospects at the key position.

A trade up for Chaisson, who recorded 60 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, two passes defended and a forced fumble in 13 appearances for the Tigers last season, could make sense.

Moving from No. 16 to No. 9 would cost Atlanta 350 points on the Pro Football Reference value chart for draft picks. That's the equivalent of a late second-round pick or a pair of third-round selections.

That's a reasonable price to pay if the Falcons believe Chaisson, or another prospect they're targeting, can significantly help a defense that ranked 23rd in points allowed and 29th in sacks last season.