By: Kenneth Harrison

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here. We are going to look at the Atlanta Falcons and see their biggest needs and who they are going to select.

The Falcons are coming off another 7-10 season and they have the eighth pick in the first round.

Quarterback play was poor so they signed Kirk Cousins to address that.

Now the biggest team needs are edge/pass rusher, corner back, defensive tackle and safety.

They ranked 22^nd in sacks last season with 42 sacks. This seems to be a theme every year. Defensive ends Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree each had 6.5 sacks, which tied for the team lead.

The first order of business has to be someone that can get to the quarterback. I think they can go in a few different directions with this.

Linebacker Dallas Turner (Alabama) could be the player they go with. Last season he had 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He is 6’4 and 245 pounds so he fits the mold of what a prototypical edge rusher looks like. He was coached by Nick Saban and he was a permanent team captain so he has leadership ability.

Turner was named a consensus All-American, SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First-team All-SEC in 2023.

Florida State edge/defensive lineman Jared Verse should also be in consideration for this pick. He’s listed as 6’4 and 260 so he also looks the part as a pass rusher. Last season he had 12.5 TFL and 9 sacks. In 2022, he had 17 TFL and 9 sacks. He was very consistent in his two seasons in Tallahassee after transferring from Albany.

He is a two time first-team All-American (2022, 2023) and two time first-team All-ACC (2022, 2023).

I think either one of these players would be a great pick because it addresses a position of need. They both have the potential to consistently get double-digit sacks and greatly improve Atlanta’s pass rush.

A player with the talent to be picked at No. 8 by Atlanta is UCLA defensive end/linebacker Laiatu Latu. In 2023 he had 21.5 TFL, 13 sacks and 2 interceptions. In 2022 he had 12.5 TFL and 10.5 sacks. He’s also 6’5 and 265 pounds.

His problem stems from medical concerns. He was healthy the past two seasons so that should indicate that it is not a major concern. He started his career at Washington and suffered a neck injury in fall practice entering his sophomore year. It was announced that he medically retired at the start of spring practices in 2021.

Latu won the Lombardi Award (2023), Ted Hendricks Award (2023), Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year (2023), Morris Trophy (2023), Unanimous All-American (2023), Polynesian Football Player of the Year (2023) and two time first-team All-Pac-12 (2022, 2023).

The Falcons have the 43^rd pick in the second round. They should select a corner back here and I think the best remaining player will be Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama). He’s 5’11, 180 pounds and he’s a physical player.

In his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, he has 93 tackles. He has 23 passes defended and 2 interceptions in his career as well. McKinstry was a First-team All-American (2023) and two time First-team All-SEC (2022, 2023).