The Atlanta Falcons got off to a hot start in 2015 starting the season 5-0 under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, but fell apart midway through the season with a six-game losing streak. The Falcons did take a step forward under their new head coach with two more wins in 2015 and 8-8 record, and are looking to build off of last season especially on the defensive side of the ball.
The Falcons saw improvement in the defense under Quinn, as they went from last in 2014 in terms of yards allowed to 16th in the league last season, but still have some major issues to resolve. The biggest problem for the Falcons last season was creating a pass rush on opposing quarterbacks, as they finished dead last in the league with only 19 total team sacks.
The Falcons have already made some moves in free agency to help the pass rush signing defensive end Derrick Shelby and retaining defensive end Adrian Clayborn, but should still look to acquire an edge rusher for their 4-3 defense in the 2016 NFL Draft. There are multiple prospects the Falcons could look to select with the 17th pick in this year's class, and three players Atlanta's front office should have on their big board for the first round are Ohio State's Darron Lee, Clemson's Shaq Lawson and Georgia's Leonard Floyd.
The Buckeyes outside linebacker is considered an ideal modern-era linebacker, as his athleticism and versatility allows him to drop back in coverage but also enables him to be sent on blitzes to create pressure on opposing offenses. Listed at 6-foot-1, 232-pounds Lee is a bit small for as an NFL linebacker, but proved in college his ability to transition from safety to the linebacker position with 146 total tackles, 27 tackles for a loss, three interceptions and 11 sacks in two seasons.
While Lee could make a strong fit in Atlanta's defense next season, Georgia's outside linebacker Leonard Floyd brings many of the same qualities and proved himself valuable asset with his play in the SEC. The Bulldogs linebacker recorded 72 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks his junior season, but much like Lee will need to add to his frame in the NFL. The 6-foot-6, 244-pound linebacker is considered one of the best edge rushers in the year's class, and Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith would surely find ways to get him involved in blitz packages early in 2016.
Both Lee and Floyd could make strong fits at outside linebacker for the Falcons in 2016, but if Clemson's defensive end Shaq Lawson is still on the board at 17 the Falcons may look to grab him quickly. The 6-foot-3, 269-pound defensive end created havoc for opposing offenses in college football last season, as he consistently created pressure behind the line of scrimmage. Lawson record 59 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, and a forced a fumble in his junior season with the Tigers, and would bring an immediate presence to the defensive side of the ball for Atlanta next season.
The Falcons clearly need to bolster their pass rush following last season, and it wouldn't be a surprise if any of these three prospects ended up in Atlanta's defense next season, as each one could fill an immediate need heading into the 2016 season.
