Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Speculation runs rampant during this time of year. Anyone can do — and be — anything, because none of it is real yet. It's what makes this period of the football calendar so intriguing.
As noted in the Mock Draft Tracker, draft experts everywhere have the ink pretty much dried on the Falcons taking an edge rusher. But this mock draft explores another option. One that, if you'll allow me to explain, may intrigue you as much as it did me.
Here's something to think about...
Biggest needs per NFL.com: QB, WR, EDGE, OT, S
Analysis: This is the second consecutive week that I have Ward as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Honestly, as the weeks go on, this feels more and more like a slam dunk prediction.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, QB, OT, WR, RB
Analysis: The Browns still need a quarterback, that much has remained the same. The problem with this draft class, though, is I don't know if you're going to see a run on quarterbacks early. I still think the Browns have time to figure out their QB situation without having to reach in the draft.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: QB, OT, OG, CB, S
Analysis: HA! Looks like the Giants took the exact opposite approach as the Browns.
With all of the quarterback holdouts happening (I'm still looking at you, Aaron), I couldn't really justify another quarterback-needy team skipping out on drafting someone this year... even though I just said what I said at pick No. 2, which I hope you, too, found humor in.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: OT, WR, EDGE, CB, IOL
Analysis: I think this is the first time Hunter has fallen out of the top-3, and it's because of his teammate's placement into it. Ironic. But seriously, there's no way Hunter falls past the Patriots when we know how hungry they are for someone like Hunter.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: DT, S, IOL, WR, QB
Analysis: The first wave of free agency changed my view on what the Jaguars actually need. I've been going offensive heavy with my picks for Jacksonville so I thought I would change it up a little bit. I had Graham rising pretty significantly in my last mock, what's another spot into the top-5?
Biggest needs per NFL.com: QB, WR, RB, CB, DT
Analysis: Speaking of jumps... there is no one on this mock who jumped as many spots as Golden did from last week to this week. I know many draft experts don't have Golden as a top-10 pick, or even the best receiver in the class, but I stand by what I wrote very early on about Golden: He's one of my favorite players to watch in this class.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: QB, DT, OT, S, CB
Analysis: I went back and forth as to weather or not I was going to have the Jets pick up an offensive weapon for Justin Fields, but I ultimately felt he'd need more protection than he currently has. And taking one of the top tackle prospect seemed like the right move.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, DT, WR, C, QB
Analysis: As much as I want to send Walker to the Falcons at No. 15, there's no way I see him falling past Carolina here at No. 8 or the Saints at No. 9. Maybe I will figure out a way to get him to Atlanta, but for this mock, I couldn't.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, DT, WR, TE, CB
Analysis: I feel as though the Saints need more help in the interior of their defensive line than true edge rusher, but considering Graham was already off the board, they weren't going to reach at No. 9 for a defensive tackle that may not be a top-10 pick.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: OT, EDGE, WR, RB
Analysis: With the free agency moves made by Chicago to beef up the interior of its offensive line the last couple weeks, they need a playmaker who can utilize those bodies. That's Jeanty.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: CB, DT, EDGE, LB, OG
Analysis: There's a bit of discourse among experts as to who the best tackle in the class is. Some have Will Campbell and others have Armand Membou. In this hypothetical, the 49ers are the latter, and they don't miss the opportunity to take the player they believe is the best.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: RB, OG, DT, CB, LB
Analysis: The Cowboys were reeeaalllyyy hoping to see Jeanty available here. He wasn't. So, they take the next best option at the position: Hampton.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: DT, OG, LB, QB
Analysis: For me, Zabel is one of the most difficult player in this class to place. I have him out of the first round completely one moment, and going at No. 13 the next. He's an enigma to me. But I chose him for Miami because of their offensive line needs. He's someone with the position flexibility to help the Dolphins wherever needed. This could be highly valuable.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: IOL, TE, CB, LB, S
Analysis: There are few things I feel as confident in as I do the Colts drafting a tight end.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, S, CB, C, WR
Analysis: I know you're probably none too pleased with me for not drafting an edge rusher. But, if you're not going to get an edge rusher — why not acquire one of the most versatile and impactful members of the secondary in this class. Don't believe me? Here's what Daniel Jeremiah wrote about Barron in his Top 50 ranking.
"Barron is a talented Swiss Army Knife. He aligned outside, in the slot and in the box as a dime linebacker for the Longhorns. He made impact plays in every game I studied."
I don't know about you, but this sounds like a player the Falcons could very much use. As I wrote in our Mailbox this week, the re-signing of Mike Hughes doesn't mean the Falcons can't — or won't — go after another cornerback. Barron is a player you can plug-and-play in multiple spots according to what you need from him at any given moment. That's a game-changer for this secondary, which already has the likes of A.J. Terrell, Jessie Bates III, Hughes and (most recently reported) Jordan Fuller. Barron could be the missing piece.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, DT, WR, OG, OT
Analysis: I think the Cardinals are really looking for more bodies to fill out the defensive interior. Harmon is a disruptive option for them.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: TE, OT, CB, OG
Analysis: After the moves the Bengals made this past week by dealing monster deals to Tee Higgins and Jamar Chase, I couldn't justify giving them yet another offensive weapon. I could justify an edge rusher, though.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: OG, QB, LB, DT, OT
Analysis: Seattle absolutely "best player available" here. No doubt about that based on how the board is shaking out.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: WR, OG, LB, EDGE, OT
Analysis: You know who is BESIDE themselves about Seattle's pick? The Bucs. Absolutely fuming. They regroup, though, and end up with the next best thing: An edge rusher with a high ceiling.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: TE, WR, LB, S, DT
Analysis: The Broncos are pretty dang pumped that McMillan fell to them at No. 20. They were a little worried when Golden went so early in the draft to Las Vegas.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: QB, CB, RB, OT
Analysis: The Steelers are in the same position as the Giants and Vikings: Waiting on Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson to make a decision. I tend to believe that the Steelers have the best chance to actual land either. If they do, it opens the door for them to look towards the defense in the draft.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, DT, C, S, TE
Analysis: If McMillan or Golden were left on the board at this point, I see the Chargers selecting them. But in this scenario, they're not. So, the Chargers look to the next best available offensive weapon.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: CB, EDGE, DT, C, WR
Analysis: The Packers are in a very similar situation as the Chargers are the pick before. They were really hoping the two best receivers squeaked out of the top-20.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: CB, DT, RB, OG, S
Analysis: Though the Vikings do need a little more help upfront at this point, I couldn't keep Emmanwori off the draft board any longer.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: WR, OG, DT, CB, OT
Analysis: This pick makes a lot of sense for what Houston is looking for at this point in time.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: OT, WR, CB, LB, TE
Analysis: I can't claim this pick, Mel Kiper had it first. But the more I looked into this idea, the more I liked it. This is the first time Thomas has broken into the first round of one of my mocks and I am a little surprised I didn't think about this option sooner.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: OT, WR, EDGE, OG, S
Analysis: Another week, another opportunity for me to draft Starks to Baltimore it appears.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, CB, WR, OG, DT
Analysis: This is another instance where I didn't change my stance on who I wanted where from Mock Draft 2.0 to 3.0. Whoever the best edge rusher left on the board is, that's who I am mocking to Detroit. Happened to be Pearce, again.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, OT, WR, LB, CB
Analysis: The Commanders were going either Pearce or Ezeiruaku depending on what Detroit did. So, yeah. Here we sit.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: DT, WR, EDGE, CB, S
Analysis: Whoever the best available defender was is who I was sending north. Congrats, Kenneth. That's you, my guy.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: DT, OG, OT, WR, EDGE
Analysis: Another team hungry for a defensive tackle takes one away, too.
Biggest needs per NFL.com: EDGE, WR, LB, OG, K
Analysis: The Eagles are really in need of more edge presence, but that's not how the draft ultimately fell. So, they look into a more practical pick in Booker — someone they could plug where needed.
