Atlanta Falcons Draft Needs: Where Does Atlanta Need Help Most?

After going 6-10 in 2014, the Atlanta Falcons have quite a few needs to fill to make it back to the playoffs. However, the team can fill some of these needs with free agents and the large amount of cash that they have under the cap.

The Falcons need to address some things for the future, though. Specifically, they must find some of the biggest pieces for their Falcons' long-term success this year. The continued problems that were always issues under Mike Smith have to be fixed now, with this year's draft class.

The top four needs for the Falcons draft will be ordered by whether there are current starting-caliber players at the position, whether the contract situation makes sense for a higher pick and whether the Falcons can get by with what they have at the spot for another season.

No. 4: Workhorse Running Back

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

After posting eight straight seasons of 1,000 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving, Steven Jackson came to Atlanta with the intention of being the savior of the running game. Unfortunately, it was one season too late for Jackson to join the Falcons and be that running back who put them over the hump.

Jackson has combined for 1,250 yards rushing and 339 yards receiving over the two seasons in Atlanta. The Falcons need to replace him, as his contract puts him in the spot of an overpaid, unproductive, aging (31) running back. 

Atlanta needs a workhorse running back to take the main load. After signing veterans throughout the past seven years, Atlanta needs to bring in someone through the draft as a long-term solution for Matt Ryan's counterpart. Devonta Freeman has a shot to fulfill this role, but Atlanta needs to bring in some competition.

Options exist throughout the draft. From Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon after a trade-up to the first round to a guy like Ameer Abdullah or Jay Ayaji on Day 2, the Falcons have options early. But there are also multiple options late for the Falcons that would make sense including local talent Synjyn Days.

No. 3: Coverage Linebacker

John Bazemore/Associated Press

When Sean Weatherspoon and Marquis Spruill went down for the season, the Falcons' shot at covering receivers, running backs and tight ends with linebackers went down the drain. Paul Worrilow, Joplo Bartu and Prince Shembo just aren't athletic enough to be coverage linebackers in today's NFL.

During the 2014 season, they allowed 864 yards on 105 targets into their coverages for six touchdowns. Atlanta needs someone to come in and at the very minimum compete with Spruill and potentially Weatherspoon for the role.

Luckily, due to the waning importance of off-ball linebackers in the draft, the Falcons could potentially solve this issue with someone in the third or even fourth round. Or they could try to outsmart the draft and get a Taylor Mays or William Moore-type safety and use him as an undersized linebacker in nickel sets.

No. 2: Tight End with Receiving Value

Dave Martin/Associated Press

Tony Gonzalez retired and took with him any chance of the Falcons having a solid tight end for the 2014 season.

Levine Toilolo was supposed to be the guy who provided at least some sort of production from the tight end spot in 2014. Unfortunately, he bombed worse than Joey Harrington did in 2007 as a starting quarterback option. Atlanta needs someone who can attack the middle of the field and the seams in zone defenses.

Ideally, the team will get someone in the second round like Maxx Williams.

Williams would be very similar to what Jason Witten has been in Dallas, except Williams has better athleticism than the longtime Dallas tight end. Williams, Julio Jones, Harry Douglas and Roddy White could make up a great group of starting pass-catchers for Atlanta's offense in 2015.

No. 1: Edge Pass-Rusher

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Since the Falcons let John Abraham go after the 2012 season, their lead pass-rushers have had 7.5 and 4.5 sacks from Osi Umenyiora and Kroy Biermann, respectively. That's pathetic. Their sack totals as a unit stagnated then plummeted from 29 in 2012 to 32 in 2013 to 22 in 2014.

Biermann and Umenyiora are both unrestricted free agents, and the best edge-rusher on the roster currently is Jonathan Massaquoi or Stansly Maponga. With just Tyler Starr joining those two currently under contract, Atlanta needs someone to get after the passer off the edge.

None of those three has shown he could be the primary pass-rusher, but all three have potential as rotational guys. With a top-10 pick, the Falcons could bring in the best pass-rusher in the class. A premier rusher added to the Falcons defense would make a huge difference for the future.

Atlanta could run schemes that featured the new pass-rusher in packages with a potential free-agent signing. Add in Massaquoi and Maponga off the bench as rotational rushers and the Falcons could have a legitimate edge rush for the first time in years.

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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