2015 NFL Draft: 5 Pass-Rushers Atlanta Falcons Should Target

The Atlanta Falcons have one of the worst pass rushes in the entire NFL. However, this year is the perfect draft to remedy that. There are at least 10 different guys who would be helpful for any team's pass rush, and five of them specifically should draw Atlanta's attention at edge-rusher.

Atlanta's current pass-rushing pairing of Osi Umenyiora (32) and Kroy Biermann (29) are both in the final year of their contracts, and it doesn't look like they should be re-signed with how they have performed this season. Even if they are, it still makes sense to draft a pass-rusher high due to their ages. 

Atlanta is projecting to have a top-10 pick again in this year's coming draft, and while some of these guys will be worth a pick that high, others are better suited at the bottom of the first round or at the top of the second.

Dante Fowler

Junior

University of Florida

6'3", 260 Pounds

NFL Comparison: Justin Houston or Terrell Suggs

Dante Fowler has shown to be one of the best pass-rushers in the SEC. However, because there aren't great complements to him on the Florida roster, he's stuck with low sack totals on the season. Fowler is one of the few guys who will come into the NFL with knowledge of how to properly use his hands.

On top of that, he has great burst off the line and could turn into one of the best pass-rushers early with the high number of snaps he's seen. Atlanta could use him as a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker depending on the formation.

Fowler and current Falcon Jonathan Massaquoi could have a Tamba Hali/Justin Houston-style relationship where both are fast off the line and can play with their hand down or from a standing position. It would give whoever winds up coaching the defense a great fit for the Falcons up front.

College Stats

2014: 8 games played, 43 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 11 QB hurries, 2 fumbles forced, 1 fumble recovered

2013: 12 games played, 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 7 QB hurries, 3 fumbles forced, 1 pass deflection

2012: 13 games played, 30 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 QB hurry

Alvin "Bud" Dupree

Senior

University of Kentucky

6'4", 264 Pounds

NFL Comparison: Michael Bennett or Everson Griffen

Bud Dupree is a great fit for any defense as a defensive end. He's someone who will show a middling motor at times, but he's an excellent run defender who can hold up at the point of attack. He also has a quick first step that allows him to win with speed or power.

He's no speed-rusher, though. His best moves come off counter moves for his bull rush. Atlanta could use someone like him who can play every down as a main part of a rotation with Jonathan Massaquoi, Malliciah Goodman and Stansly Maponga. 

The Falcons could have him on either side of the field, too. Dupree would be a great fit for the Falcons if they wanted to wait until the early second round of the draft for their first pass-rusher pick. That would only make sense if they chose an offensive lineman or someone like Amari Cooper in the first round, though.

College Stats

2014: 10 games played, 53 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 5 QB hurries, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection, 1 blocked lick, 1 defensive touchdown

2013: 11 games played, 61 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 2 fumbles forced, 1 pass deflection

2012: 12 games played, 91 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection

2011: 12 games played, 21 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 QB hurry, 2 pass deflections, 1 blocked kick

Vic Beasley

Redshirt Senior

Clemson University

6'3", 235 Pounds

NFL Comparison: Robert Mathis or Bruce Irvin

Much like Robert Mathis or Bruce Irvin, Vic Beasley is at his best when he is standing up and rushing the passer. He tends to build leverage and use a great speed-to-power conversion despite having one of the smallest frames for the outside linebacker role in college football.

Beasley is unique in that his best fit in the NFL could be at inside linebacker and not defensive end or outside linebacker. He's able to time the blitz very effectively and could be a fun player to watch attacking A-gaps with Paul Worrilow and Prince Shembo.

The biggest question for Beasley's fit in Atlanta doesn't come because of his speed or power but rather from his lack of size, which could force him into a linebacker role. Atlanta might be running a 4-3 in 2015 with a coaching change possible.

College Stats

2014: 9 games played, 21 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered, 2 pass deflections, 1 defensive touchdown

2013: 13 games played, 41 tackles, 23.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, 5 QB hurries, 4 fumbles forced, 1 fumble recovered, 6 pass deflections, 1 defensive touchdown

2012: 13 games played, 14 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 1 fumble forced

2011: 9 games played, 1 tackle

2010: Redshirted

Shane Ray

Redshirt Junior

University of Missouri

6'3", 245 Pounds

NFL Comparison: Chris Clemons or Clay Matthews

When a team runs as multiple of a defense as what Atlanta has run this season, adding a pass-rusher who can attack while standing up and with his hand in the dirt is helpful. Shane Ray would easily be the Falcons' best pass-rusher fresh out of the gate.

He does most of his damage from a 7-technique role in Missouri's defense, but he's shown great burst off the line and the ability to slide out to a 9-technique or even take a step back from the line and attack out of a standing position.

Atlanta would be lucky to have someone with as relentless of a motor as Ray. He is unique in that he's not getting talked about a ton right now by national media, but by the time the draft rolls around, he should be considered a top-10-15-caliber selection.

College Stats

2014: 9 games played, 50 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 2 fumbles forced, 1 pass deflection, 1 blocked kick

2013: 14 games played, 39 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 8 QB hurries, 2 fumbles forced, 1 fumble recovered, 1 defensive touchdown

2012: 12 games played, 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 3 QB hurries

2011: Redshirted

Randy Gregory

Junior

University of Nebraska

6'6", 240 Pounds

NFL Comparison: John Abraham or Simeon Rice

Out of all of the pass-rushers in this year's class, the rawest potential belongs to Randy Gregory. He has a long, athletic frame and creates excellent burst off the line. He's able to bend the edge effectively while also using his big hands and long arms to control blockers against the run.

He converts his speed into power very well but has trouble with bigger, stronger offensive linemen and using coverage moves. Atlanta would have to help fix his motor because it does run hot and cold depending on his level of success for the day.

Moving him around the formation could be one way to help him, but ideally, he's the pass-rushing counterpart to a run-stuffing guy like Malliciah Goodman. Gregory should be able to line up at 3-4 OLB or 4-3 DE in the same way John Abraham did. But he has a way to go before he's the world-beater that Abraham was.

College Stats

2014: 8 games played, 37 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 10 QB hurries, 1 interception, 1 fumble forced, 3 pass deflections, 1 blocked kick

2013: 13 games played, 65 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 15 QB hurries, 1 interception, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered, 1 pass deflection, 1 defensive touchdown

2012: Played at Arizona Western Community College

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats (subscription required), ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro-day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac and Rotoworld.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He also runs DraftFalcons.com.

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