Falcons' Top 2024 NFL Draft Targets (2024)

The Atlanta Falcons stand out as a wild card in the 2024 NFL draft. With the eighth pick in a draft that has plenty of talent at the top there's a wide arrangement of directions they could go.

The one thing you wouldn't think they would do is draft a quarterback. After giving Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract you'd think taking a quarterback would be off the table. Yet, there were recently linked to Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

That doesn't feel like a realistic scenario, but it does go to show that the Falcons could go in any number of directions.

Here, we'll try to cut through some of the noise to highlight their top three realistic targets with the eighth pick and how they fit into the Falcons picture.

There's a good chance that the Falcons are going to have their choice of defensive players when they get on the clock at No. 8. With multiple top quarterback prospects, three elite wide receivers and two offensive tackles in our top 10 prospects, there's a lot more top offensive talent for the first seven teams to pick.

The Falcons are one of the first teams set to pick that doesn't necessarily need to address any of those premium offensive positions.

What they do need is an elite pass-rusher.

The Falcons were 21st in sacks and 32nd in ESPN's pass-rush win rate. Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree led the team in sacks with 6.5 apiece.

Dallas Turner earned the "best speed-rusher" superlative from B/R's scouting department. His combination of speed, length and get-off helped him rack up the production in his final season at Alabama. He had 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in taking over as the Tide's best quarterback hunter.

The Falcons have needed an elite pass-rusher for a while now. Turner has the upside to become a double-digit sack machine and that's just what this defense needs.

While Turner is a legitimate option, he isn't the top edge defender on our board. That distinction belongs to Jared Verse who comes in at No. 9 on our big board.

Where Turner wins with his elite athleticism and speed, Verse is more of a power-rusher. The 6'4", 254-pound defensive end attacks opposing offensive linemen with heavy hands and demonstrates the ability to set a hard edge against the run.

He also had solid production as a pass-rusher while at Florida State. He racked up nine sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in his final season with the Seminoles.

Turner might be better speed-rusher, but Verse is an exceptional athlete in his own right. He earned a 9.6 relative athletic score which included a 4.58 40 time at the combine.

In reality, the decision between Turner and Verse really comes down to the eye of the beholder and what makes sense for the team's scheme. The pick could tell us about what Raheem Morris is looking for in his edge-rushers.

The Falcons have used their last three fist-round picks, with all three in the top 10, on offensive skill players. Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson are a trio that still haven't hit their ceiling.

While using another top-10 pick on another pass-catcher could be overkill, it's an intriguing possibility.

Malik Nabers is the eighth overall player on our board. While London and Pitts are both big-bodied vertical threats, the LSU receiver is 6'0", 200 pounds of explosiveness and electric route-running. Nabers blazed

With Kirk Cousins at quarterback and new head coach Raheem Morris bringing in Zac Robinson to be the offensive coordinator, the Falcons might finally have they system and support in place for their young skill group to shine.

Adding Nabers to that mix would give them a top-five offensive ceiling.

The Falcons would be knowingly neglecting some important needs on defense, but sometimes the best defense is a good offense.

Nabers complements the Falcons' existing personnel and is talented enough to justify the big swing on yet another skill player in the top 10.