ATLANTA -- -- The 2024 NFL draft (on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) began Thursday in Detroit and will wrap up Saturday.
ESPN will provide pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Falcons' selections as they are made.
A look at each of Atlanta's scheduled selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1: No. 8 overall: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
My take: Stunner. The Falcons pulled off the shocker of the first round, taking Penix earlier than just about every expert predicted. He was the fourth quarterback taken in the top 10. There's no doubt Atlanta saw something in Penix when watching him on tape and visiting him. The team sent a ton of staff to see him in recent weeks. Obviously, they felt comfortable with his durability, despite four season-ending injuries in college. Penix, a lefty, has an incredible arm, and from a skill standpoint, he's certainly right up there among the best signal callers on the board. And now he's the successor to Kirk Cousins.
Key stat for the player: Penix is the first FBS player with 4,500 or more passing yards in two straight seasons since Patrick Mahomes did it in 2015 and 2016 for Texas Tech. Penix led all of FBS in 2023 with 4,093 passing yards. He was second in 2022 with 4,641 yards. Penix also led Washington to the national championship game this past season, so it's not only statistics. He's also a winner.
Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole?: Depth and the potential quarterback of the future. Cousins was signed last month to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million. That includes $100 million of guaranteed money. One would imagine Cousins is locked into the starting quarterback role for the next three years. With that said, Cousins is 35 years old and is coming off a torn Achilles that ended his 2023 season in Minnesota. Perhaps there are concerns about his health, or maybe the Falcons just wanted a young quarterback to learn under the veteran for a few years, a la Jordan Love in Green Bay. However, Love is 25 years old now. Penix turns 24 in two weeks.
Check out some of the top college highlights for new Falcons defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro.
Round 2: No. 43: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
My take: The Falcons needed a pass-rusher, particularly an EDGE. Most of the impact players at that position went in the first round. Atlanta attempted to trade back into the late first, but weren't able to do so. Instead, the Falcons took Orhorhoro, a defensive tackle who has pass-rushing chops from the inside. Since 2021, Orhorhoro had 9.5 sacks lined up as a DT, which were tied for third in the ACC. The Nigeria-born Orhorhoro didn't start playing football until he was a junior in high school, so the Falcons probably like his upside.
Will he start as a rookie?: Probably not. The Falcons still have Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata on the inside of their defensive line. Onyemata is from Lagos, Nigeria, like Orhorhoro, so he could be a solid mentor for the 22-year-old out of Clemson. Orhorhoro is likely to be in the rotation, at least, and is willing to play anywhere on the line. It all depends on the system new defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake ends up implementing.
Round 3: No. 74: Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
My take: The Falcons got their pure pass-rusher and, boy, did they need it. This is a team that has had 18 fewer sacks than any other franchise in the NFL over the past three seasons. Atlanta's pass rush win rate was dead last in the league in 2023. Trice had 16 sacks over the past two seasons, which was tied for the fourth most among Power 5 players during that stretch. He's had 12 games with five or more pressures since the start of the 2022 season, which leads all FBS players. Trice played mostly outside linebacker at Washington and he had a reputation for being able to get to the quarterback.
Ties to the team to know: Trice was a Washington teammate of QB Michael Penix Jr., whom the Falcons took in the first round. Not only that, but new Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake was the head coach at Washington when Trice was recruited there. That familiarity with Lake's system can't hurt at all. Trice ended up as the team captain at Washington and was known for being well-liked by his teammates and coaches.
What's next: It would have to be the secondary. The Falcons need a cornerback to play opposite A.J. Terrell, who is on the last season of his rookie contract, and potentially some help at safety for Jessie Bates III. The Falcons allowed 94 catches for 959 yards by tight ends last season. Both were the sixth-highest totals in the league. Atlanta's defense allowed 16 reception touchdowns by wide receivers with only five interceptions on those targets. The latter mark was the third fewest in the NFL. The Falcons could use some depth at wide receiver as well. But defense is still the priority.
Remaining picks
Round 4: No. 109
Round 5: No. 143
Round 6: No. 186 (from Arizona)
Round 6: No. 187
Round 6: No. 197 (from Cleveland)