The Atlanta Falcons have had a quiet offseason so far. The Falcons signed veteran linebackers Barkevious Mingo and Brandon Copeland while adding Mike Davis to bolster their anemic running game. Hopefully, Davis will be a better acquisition than Todd Gurley. Defensive end Allen Bailey and safety Ricardo Allen were cut.
Edge rusher is again the most pressing need for Atlanta. At this point, it almost seems like a certainty every year. Atlanta is picking fourth in the upcoming draft and there are no edge players worth taking that high, so there are several ways the team can utilize this pick.
One of the team's needs is an eventual replacement for longtime quarterback Matt Ryan. The former league MVP is 35 years old and his play has been declining. The first three picks will surely be used on signal-callers. The Falcons can scoop up whichever prospect falls, such as Ohio State's Justin Fields or North Dakota State's Trey Lance.
The Falcons can also use the best player available approach and pick tight end Kyle Pitts from Florida. He is the best tight end prospect in recent memory and will be a matchup nightmare with his physical tools and crisp route running.
If there is a great offer for the fourth pick, Atlanta can even trade down and get help at other positions of need, like a cornerback.
Edge rusher can be addressed in the second round. Depending on how the draft shakes up, Miami's Jaelan Phillips or Wake Forest's Carlos Basham Jr. could be the pick.
Phillips is one of the most difficult prospects to project. Some have him as the best at his position, while others see him sliding way down. At 6-foot-5 and 266 pounds, he has ideal size and displays great speed and explosiveness. Phillips has a great arsenal of moves that make life difficult for opposing linemen. He is also very solid against the run.
The biggest question mark with Phillips is health. He has dealt with a bevy of injuries, ranging from concussions to ankle sprains. If teams are scared off, Atlanta can bite the bullet in the second round.
On the other hand, Basham is an intelligent defender with great size at 6-foot-5 and 285 pounds. Unlike Phillips, he does not have the same explosiveness to win his matchups regularly. He's able to overcome this with his technique and strength. He has the frame to line up inside as a defensive tackle and an interior with him, and Grady Jarrett would be deadly. Basham is also different from Philips in that he's more of a high-floor, low-ceiling kind of prospect.
If the Falcons aren't impressed with this year's top crop of young edge rushers and pick a more developmental prospect, they can still scour the free-agency market for veteran options. Atlanta can sign Melvin Ingram to a short-term deal. He's past his prime but can still be a serviceable pass rusher. His knee injury and extended time as a free agent should drive his asking price down.
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