Tired of mock drafts? Have you felt nauseated by draft experts using an exhausting amount of time to discuss mediocre quarterbacks?
Good, because you won’t get any of that here (well, one of those quarterbacks could get a mention). Instead, as the national three-day holiday that is the NFL draft begins its run in Green Bay on Thursday night, we’re going to look at what the Atlanta Falcons and the Tennessee Titans — aren’t we lucky in our area to have two NFL teams to cheer/gripe about? — should do in the early rounds.
Whether your interests tilt north or south of Chattanooga, this draft sets up well if the front offices have good plans. That’s apparently a problem in Atlanta, where general manager Terry Fontenot is coming off one of the worst drafts in franchise history, and that’s saying a lot.
(FYI, here was my plan entering the draft a year ago. Think it could have worked out?)
The Michael Penix pick at No. 8 was, it turns out, a fantastic choice considering the Kirk Cousins situation and the underwhelming quarterbacks available in this draft. However, Fontenot picked three defensive linemen in rounds two through four — Ruke Ohorhoro, Bralen Trice and Brandon Dorlus — who combined for zero starts and 14 tackles in 2024.
Even worse, Fontenot traded up for two of them. Trice was lost for the season due to injury, and injuries apparently hampered Ohorhoro and Dorlus, so the team is counting on better health and what has to be improved game-planning with new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to get something out of the trio.
If that’s the plan/hope, it directly affects this draft. Nearly every mock has the Falcons focusing on improving the pass rush, but if all the recent draftees (which includes situational pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie, who led the team in pressures last season, and tackle Zach Harrison) and free-agent signees Leonard Floyd and Morgan Fox can be counted on to be a part of the rotation, Atlanta has more first-round options.
That includes possibly trading back and adding picks, which makes sense considering Atlanta does not have third- or fifth-round selections. In this draft, though, finding a trade partner likely won’t be easy because there is more depth than star power.
Either way, there are a half-dozen players who could realistically be available at 15, or later with a trade back, that would make this longtime Atlanta fan (sufferer) happy. And, yes, they are all on defense because, well, if you’ve read this far, you know all three levels need help.
If Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams is available, just do it. At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, he would provide much-needed size and athleticism. Yes, his production in Athens wasn’t the greatest, but he also wasn’t unleashed on quarterbacks as often as he should have been.
The other home run would be Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, a three-down tackling machine who would provide the most immediate defensive upgrade. Get him, start him and watch him win defensive rookie of the year.
Another immediate upgrade would be Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. If you’ve seen Atlanta corners not named A.J. Terrell trying to tackle or even track deep balls, you understand the need and the fit. Johnson (6-2, 194) has some injury risk, which is the only reason he has fallen from being a consensus top-10 pick.
If the Falcons could find a trade-back partner — I’ve read the Denver Broncos at No. 20 and Houston Texans at 25 are possibilities — there are three guys I would target, starting with Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.
Last month, Atlanta cut Grady Jarrett, who was pushed around last season and recorded the lowest Pro Football Focus grade of his career after being great for most of it. He was part of a line rotation that recorded just 58 quarterback hurries and rarely put any heat on them up the middle.
Harmon (6-5, 315), had 35 pressures by himself last year with the Ducks and, according to reports, never takes a play off. Heck, I wouldn’t complain a bit if he were the pick at No. 15.
Other prime targets if the pick comes in the 20s are Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron and Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen. I could be talked into Marshall edge rusher Mike Green, who is the player most frequently shown coming to Atlanta in mock drafts.
From there, with added picks or not, the Falcons should keep adding defensive players at all levels but also find a center for the offense. This doesn’t have to be a sexy draft for Fontenot and his staff, but it better be a productive one.
(Oh, and they should hold on to Cousins for a bit. You’re already paying the cap hit, and Cousins’ asking price will go up once the inevitable QB injury bug hits or Aaron Rodgers does the right thing and goes away.)
As for the Titans, there is much less intrigue. No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward of Miami will be the next face of the franchise, and new general manager Mike Borgonzi’s main draft objective should be finding the rookie QB a few weapons.
Calvin Ridley is a fine receiver, but he turned 30 in December and needs a running partner or two. Or three.
The need for a No. 2, or No. 1 depending on your view, was accelerated by Nick Westbrook-Ikine signing with the Miami Dolphins after scoring nine touchdowns in 2024 on just 32 catches.
There will be great options for the Titans with the third pick of the second round, including Washington State receiver Kyle Williams, Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins and tight ends Mason Taylor of LSU and Elijah Arroyo of Miami.
There is also the likely possibility of a team wanting that pick to draft a quarterback, including Mel Kiper’s No. 1 prospect at the position (and ESPN’s favorite topic), Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. The Titans, who do not have a third-round selection — and thankfully don’t follow Kiper’s rankings — could drop back, add multiple picks and still get offensive weapons.
Tennessee also has the ammo to move up with two more picks each round from the fourth through the sixth. Expect picks at some point for the interior offensive line, edge rusher and at safety.
Play it right, and Borgonzi won’t have to worry about picking early again any time soon.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.