OK, the Falcons surprised us all with their first-round pick in the NFL draft Thursday night by taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick. It was, let’s just say, interesting after the team signed Kirk Cousins to a big free-agent contract this year.
While most thought defense was the franchise’s primary need – specifically pass rusher and cornerback - the Falcons went offense in the first round for the fourth consecutive year (and seven out of the past eight drafts).
Friday may be the Falcons’ chance to look to the defebse. They have three picks in the second and third rounds. They are slated to pick No. 43 in the second (the 11th pick of the round) and Nos. 74 and 79 in the third (the 10 and 15th of the round).
Here are 15 of the top defensive players still available:
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Ennis Rakestraw, Jr., CB, Missouri
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
Marshawn Kneeland, Edge, Western Michigan
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Junior Colson, CB, Michigan
Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
Payton Wilson, LB, North Carolina State
Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
Chris Braswell, Edge, Alabama
