5 Pass-Rushers the Atlanta Falcons Must Consider in 2015 NFL Draft
The Atlanta Falcons' biggest hole on their team is easily their pass rush. After registering just 22 sacks in 2014 and having their top two edge players in Kroy Biermann and Osi Umenyiora as unrestricted free agents, they will have to find some ideal replacements for Dan Quinn's 4-3 fronts on defense.
There are a ton of options throughout this year's draft. Each round has someone that the Falcons should target if he falls to their pick in that round. Ideally, Atlanta will draft multiple pass-rushers to take the reins off the edge and combine along the front with Paul Soliai and Ra'Shede Hageman in 2015.
Dante Fowler, Florida
1 of 5
There are quite a few great options out there for pass-rushers, but if he's available for the Falcons, Dante Fowler is by far the best. The best comparison for Fowler is sheer and utter chaos. He's able to create pressure and disruption on a high percentage of plays.
But, much like chaos, he has to be controlled. The Falcons have the ideal coaches to teach him how to control and rein in his naturally destructive nature on the field and control the chaos. Defensive line coach Brian Cox and Quinn will be the best influences for the talented Gator.
They understand how to turn an explosive athlete like Michael Bennett or Cliff Avril into a pass-rushing machine within a scheme. Combine Fowler with Jonathan Massaquoi and a good free-agent signing in the rotation, and the Falcons would have a great pass-rushing rotation.
6'3", 260 Pounds
Junior
Stats
2014: 12 Games Played, 60 Tackles, 15.0 Tackles for Loss, 8.5 Sacks, 17 QB Hurries, 2 Fumbles Forced, 1 Fumble Recovered, 1 Pass Deflection
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
Eli Harold, Virginia
2 of 5
Eli Harold is a unique fit for the Falcons defense as a LEO. He has the frame to gain more weight than what he is currently carrying, and his length would also be perfect for the role. He has a great burst off the line, but he fails to hold up well against the run on a play-to-play basis.
One thing that Harold does better than he's given credit for comes from his hand usage. He's shown an ability to keep an offensive lineman's hands off of him as he gets after the quarterback. He has trouble maintaining the contain against mobile quarterbacks, though.
He seems to be willing to let mobile quarterbacks flush one way or the other. He has shown an ability to knock the ball up when he can't get to a quarterback by putting his long arms up. He can also play short zone coverages and could even be used as a linebacker in base sets.
6'4", 250 Pounds
Junior
Stats
2014: 12 Games Played, 54 Tackles, 14.5 Tackles for Loss, 7.0 Sacks, 1 Interception, 1 Fumble Forced, 1 Fumble Recovered, 2 Pass Deflections, 1 Defensive Touchdown
2013: 12 Games Played, 51 Tackles, 15.0 Tackles for Loss, 8.5 Sacks, 1 QB Hurry, 2 Fumbles Forced, 1 Pass Deflection
2012: 12 Games Played, 36 Tackles, 7.0 Tackles for Loss, 2.0 Sacks, 1 Interception, 1 Fumble Forced
Nate Orchard, Utah
3 of 5
Nate Orchard is a great player at the college level who doesn't totally translate to the NFL for every scheme. His size is great for a defensive end/linebacker hybrid, and his 33-inch arms are above average for the position. He's got great instincts as a pass-rusher as well.
He showed that in college his senior season when he registered 18.5 sacks in the Pac-12 against quarterbacks who are both mobile and pocket passers. He understands how to hold contain and attack the quarterback but needs work in the running game.
Orchard can get washed out at times against some of the bigger tackles that he faces because he doesn't have elite length. He does have some good speed moves. A late second-round to early third-round projection seems proper for a player of his caliber.
6'3-1/4", 251 Pounds
At Senior Bowl. Measurements obtained firsthand.
Senior
Stats
2014: 13 Games Played, 84 Tackles, 21.0 Tackles for Loss, 18.5 Sacks, 2 QB Hurries, 3 Fumbles Forced, 3 Pass Deflections
2013: 12 Games Played, 49 Tackles, 8.5 Tackles for Loss, 3.0 Sacks, 1 QB Hurry, 3 Fumbles Forced, 1 Fumble Recovered, 1 Pass Deflection
2012: 12 Games Played, 48 Tackles, 9.5 Tackles for Loss, 3.0 Sacks, 1 QB Hurry, 2 Fumbles Forced, 1 Fumble Recovered, 4 Pass Deflections, 1 Defensive Touchdown
2011: 13 Games Played, 4 Tackles, 2 Pass Deflections
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Preston Smith, Mississippi State
4 of 5
When looking into the scheme that Quinn runs, finding a great base strong side who can stuff the run and attack the quarterback is tough to do. Bennett has been excellent in that role but had his role adjusted due to his ability to move around the formations.
Atlanta has two candidates to play the base end right now in Malliciah Goodman and Tyson Jackson, but Goodman is more of a run-stuffer, while Jackson should be cut due to poor performance last season. Mississippi State's Preston Smith is very underrated right now.
He has great length and strength at the point of attack and can bull-rush with the best of them. He doesn't have any edge-bending speed moves yet, but he doesn't really need them to get to the quarterback. Ideally, he's a base end and moves to the 3-technique in the subpackages.
6'4-3/4", 270 Pounds
At Senior Bowl. Measurements obtained firsthand.
Senior
Stats
2014: 13 Games Played, 48 Tackles, 15.0 Tackles for Loss, 9.0 Sacks, 15 QB Hurries, 2 Interceptions, 2 Fumbles Forced, 3 Pass Deflections, 2 Blocked Kicks, 1 Defensive Touchdown
2013: 12 Games Played, 44 Tackles, 6.5 Tackles for Loss, 2.5 Sacks, 9 QB Hurries, 1 Fumble Forced, 3 Pass Deflections
2012: 13 Games Played, 35 Tackles, 5.5 Tackles for Loss, 4.5 Sacks, 2 QB Hurries, 1 Fumble Forced
2011: 9 Games Played, 7 Tackles, 1 Fumble Forced, 1 Pass Deflection
Lynden Trail, Norfolk State
5 of 5
When drafting pass-rushers, length will be something that is essential to find. Lynden Trail has it in abundance. While he doesn't have the high-level college experience that he could have gotten by staying at Florida, his showing at the Senior Bowl said that he belongs in the NFL.
During the week of practice, Trail not only looked like a competent pass-rusher from a two-point stance but showed explosion from a three-point stance as well. He needs to work on his hand usage disengaging blocks, but his best role might be as a strong-side linebacker who drops down in nickel situations.
Trail could be that ideal fit as a tight end defender in the NFC South while also showing pass rush ability out of the strong-side linebacker role. If the Falcons wanted to get a late-round steal, Trail could be the best possible fit for their new defense.
6'6-1/4", 262 Pounds
At Senior Bowl. Measurements obtained firsthand.
Redshirt Senior
Stats
2014: 12 Games Played, 91 Tackles, 11.5 Tackles for Loss, 5.0 Sacks, QB Hurries, 2 Fumbles Forced, 1 Fumbles Recovered, 4 Pass Deflections, 2 Blocked Kicks
2013: 12 Games Played, 94 Tackles, 12.5 Tackles for Loss, 8.5 Sacks, QB Hurries, 2 Interceptions, 5 Fumbles Forced, 2 Fumbles Recovered, 10 Pass Deflections, 2 Blocked Kicks, 1 Defensive Touchdown, 3 Catches, 9 Yards, 3 Touchdowns
2012: 11 Games Played, 70 Tackles, 17.0 Tackles for Loss, 6.0 Sacks, QB Hurries, 1 Fumbles Forced, 2 Fumbles Recovered, 4 Pass Deflections
2011: Never saw any action at Florida as a redshirt freshman
2010: Redshirted as a true freshman
All stats used are either from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN, CFBStats or the NFL. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFL Draft Scout. 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, NFL and the NFL draft.
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