The Atlanta Falcons rank in the bottom 10 in the league in passing yards allowed per game, passing touchdowns allowed, opposing quarterback completion percentage, and a whole host of other pass-defense statistics.
And while Atlanta has multiple needs they need to address in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft (edge rusher, defensive line, tight end, etc.), perhaps none are more pressing than the team's glaring need for a playmaker at cornerback.
Slated with the 16th pick in the draft, the Falcons should have a solid selection of cornerbacks that could make an immediate impact for the Dirty Birds.
While Ohio State's Jeff Okudah, the draft class' top cornerback prospect will almost certainly be gone by the time the Falcons are on the clock, the team should have some great other options to choose from.
Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson is quickly rising up draft boards after a dominant showing at the combine last week. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds, Henderson is a long rangy cornerback who can make plays.
However, it's his 4.39 40-yard dash that he showed off that could make Henderson the perfect prospect for the Falcons to pick at 16.
Other than Henderson, LSU's Kristian Fulton and Alabama's Trevon Diggs are two other corners that could be drafted in Atlanta's range.
At 6-foot and 6-foot-1 respectively, both Fulton and Diggs have ideal size for a top cornerback in the league. And while Fulton struggled with some drills at the combine, the national champion has allowed a 40 percent completion percentage since 2018 and can't be ignored.
As for Diggs, the Crimson Tide star did not participate in any of the drills at the combine, but his long arms, soft hands and elite ball skills make him a tantalizing prospect.
As for the cornerbacks already on the Falcons roster, the team desperately needs someone to put alongside Desmond Trufant. Still, Trufant hasn't been quite the same player since his Pro Bowl season in 2015 and missed much of last season due to injury.
2018 second-round pick Isaiah Oliver stepped in as a full-time starter in year number two and if he continues to improve, he could be quite the player for Atlanta.
Kendall Sheffield, a fourth-round pick from last year, started 11 games in his rookie season and has the chance to be a major diamond in the rough for the Falcons.
However, while the current cornerbacks on the roster certainly have moments of greatness, they're either an unsure thing or not as effective as they used to be. The Falcons have addressed the cornerback position in four of the last five drafts, but if the team wants to have an elite defense in an increasingly-pass-happy league, they'll need to secure a lockdown CB.
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