Atlanta Falcons Trade Back Into The 1st Round, Take James Pearce Jr.

The Atlanta Falcons had a pass rush problem last season. Despite trading for Matthew Judon last offseason, the Falcons ranked near the bottom of the NFL in sacks. They were not going to let that happen again. With the 15th pick, the team took Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker. They traded with the Rams for the 26th pick and selected Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr.

Atlanta Falcons Take James Pearce Jr.

The Atlanta Falcons gave up quite a lot to get their second edge rusher of the night. They traded a second and seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, as well as next year’s first-round pick, to the Rams for this pick, as well as pick No. 101. They are getting a quality pass rusher. Last season, he had 38 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss. In his sophomore season, he led the SEC in sacks with ten.

The Atlanta Falcons have one of the most high-powered offenses in the league. Michael Penix Jr. looked good down the stretch, and the combination of Bijan Robinson and Drake London makes this one of the most potent offenses in the league. Their defense let them down last season. It’s hard to stop opposing offenses when you cannot rush the quarterback. NFL offenses are too good to let the quarterback sit back with unlimited time.

Final Thoughts

The Atlanta Falcons clearly believe they have a roster that is ready to win now. Teams don’t trade future first-round picks unless they think they have a Super Bowl roster. In a weak NFC South, they definitely have a good shot at the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only real competition. Will the Falcons regret this move, or did they secure their future at edge rusher for years to come?