NFL Draft week is here, and rumors abound about the Falcons plans with their top pick. Could Atlanta accept a big trade down, possibly into the late teens? Host Kevin Knight examines a potential scenario based on the SB Nation Writers’ Mock Draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft is finally, mercifully, just a few days away. I’d expect to hear a lot of noise and craziness in the lead up to Thursday, and I’d caution you that maybe 10% of it is legitimate. At this point in the process, teams have typically narrowed down their boards and made the bulk of their tough decisions. Obviously, draft night can always throw a wrench into even the best laid plans, but I wouldn’t expect major changes for most teams.

Speaking of wrenches being thrown into plans, I’m sure most of you have seen my trade and subsequent pick for the Atlanta Falcons in SB Nation’s Writers’ Mock Draft. Long story short, the Falcons received a large offer from the Los Angeles Rams to move back to 19, and the deal was simply too good to refuse. Atlanta wound up drafting a player they probably would’ve considered at 8 while pocketing an extra third-rounder this year and a 2025 first-round pick.

Well, I was so intrigued by that scenario that I thought it would be a fun exercise to continue the mock draft on my own—the Writers’ Mock only goes through the second round—and see how that sort of big trade could impact Atlanta’s entire draft class. Don’t worry though: for those of you who prefer no-trade mocks, I’ll have one of those coming your way on Tuesday.

Before we jump in to the mock, let’s take a look at the Falcons’ current haul of draft picks.

What are the Falcons current draft picks?

• Round 1, Pick 8
• Round 2, Pick 43
• Round 3, Pick 74
• Round 3, Pick 79 from Jaguars, Calvin Ridley trade
• Round 4, Pick 109
• Round 5, Pick 142
• Round 6, Pick 187
• Round 6, Pick 197 from Browns

This is the written version, but you can also find the mock draft in two alternate forms as well. On our YouTube channel:

The mock is also available on all your favorite podcast platforms! You can listen to it directly here:

TRADE — Round 1, Pick 19: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Falcons trade pick 8 to the Los Angeles Rams for picks 19, 83 (3rd), and a 2025 1st.

I’ve mocked Laiatu Latu to the Falcons many times and my stance on him hasn’t changed. I think he’s the most polished pass rusher I’ve seen come out of college in many years of scouting, and outside of some physical limitations, looks the part of a double-digit sack artist in the NFL. If you’d like more explanation of the trade and picks, check out the article. Otherwise, here’s my blurb on Latu from a previous mock draft:

Latu is one of the most technically polished pass rushers I’ve ever seen coming out of college. He’s got a dizzying array of moves and knows when and how to use them. While he’s got a good frame at 6’5, 267, he does lack ideal length with less than 33” arms. However, Latu’s biggest questions were his medicals and his overall athleticism. He answered both thoroughly at the Combine (and his Pro Day), with positive reports on his health and an impressive 9.37 RAS. Latu is the most pro-ready pass rusher in the class and should be expected to make an immediate impact on passing downs, which fits well with Atlanta’s win-now mindset after the Kirk Cousins signing.

TRADE — Round 1, Pick 27: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Falcons trade picks 43 (2nd) and 83 (3rd) to the Arizona Cardinals for pick 27.

What do the Falcons do with extra Day 2 ammunition and a future first in their pocket? Scan the board carefully, and pounce on any players of interest who fall into range. That’s exactly what happened with cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, and I jumped at the opportunity to send our recently acquired third-rounder to the Cardinals in a trade-up from 43 to 27.

The Falcons have a ton of questions at the cornerback position. Will A.J. Terrell sign a long-term extension, or will he head elsewhere next offseason? Who starts opposite of Terrell in 2024? The best way to answer both of those questions is to take a shot on a high-end prospect like McKinstry. McKinstry has excellent tape and an ideal frame for the outside at nearly 6’0, 200, but he’s just a good—not great—athlete. That’s really the only thing holding him back from being higher up draft boards.

McKinstry plays the game with a ton of polish and looks completely calm and comfortable on the field. He’s scheme-versatile and experienced in a variety of alignments, there’s no defense he can’t play. His short-area quickness is impressive, although his deep speed is relatively average. McKinstry is aggressive with his hands in coverage and that could potentially get him in trouble at the NFL level. He’s not as aggressive in run support but is a reliable tackler. McKinstry would provide the Falcons an instant starter across from Terrell with the upside to become an eventual impact player.

Round 3, Pick 74: DT Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson

I’ve been trying to get Ruke Orhorhoro to the Falcons for some time, but it simply hadn’t lined up before. The versatile interior defensive lineman from Clemson played up and down the line in college, but I think he’s best as a 3T or 4i in the NFL with some flexibility to play 5T in base packages. Orhorhoro (6’4, 294) is an elite athlete on the interior with very good length (34” arms)—two things Atlanta has prioritized under Terry Fontenot. His testing landed him an outstanding 9.92 RAS thanks in part terrific jumps, agilities, and splits.

Orhorhoro has a great build and a ferocious playstyle. He uses his quickness well and his non-stop motor makes him effective against both the run and pass. Orhorhoro is an active hand-fighter but still needs to learn moves and improve and shedding blockers. He’s also a bit light for the inside and would benefit from bulking up into the 300s. I like Orhorhoro a lot as a versatile chess piece on the defensive line who can continue to grow and develop this season before taking on a larger role in 2025 and beyond, when Atlanta will have some tough decisions to make with Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata.

Round 3, Pick 79: WR Javon Baker, UCF

Pick acquired from Jaguars (Calvin Ridley trade).

Even after the acquisitions of Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore, the Falcons still need to add to the receiver corps. It’s certainly not as dire of a need as it once was, but the team would be making a mistake to not add someone from this incredibly deep draft class. UCF’s Javon Baker has been rising up draft boards ever since the Senior Bowl, and it’s easy to see why. He boasts some of the best advanced metrics in the class and possesses obvious NFL size at over 6’1, 202.

Baker didn’t overly wow with his speed at the Combine (4.54s) but is still a good overall athlete (7.84 RAS) and plays fast on the field. He’s got some terrific nuance to his route running, using timing and controlled bursts of acceleration to throw off the coverage. Baker is very good at creating separation and finding an open spot, and he’s shown ability to win vertically. He has some lapses in concentration but he’s also capable of some incredible circus catches. Baker may not have WR1 upside, but I think he’s a long-term WR3 with WR2 potential.

Round 4, Pick 109: SAF Cole Bishop, Utah

Why mess with a good thing, particularly when a player is available even later than expected? I’m still a big fan of Utah’s Cole Bishop, and it’s seeming more and more likely that he might be available in the early-Day 3 range. In that case, sign me up! Here’s what I had to say about Bishop in a previous mock draft:

When turning on the tape, the physical traits stand out: Bishop possesses ideal size at 6’2, 206 and turned in an exceptional Combine workout, finishing with an elite 9.81 RAS. What also stands out in his aggressiveness, both in coverage and in run support.

Bishop is a high-motor player who loves to hit. He’s got outstanding movement skills and strong instincts in zone coverage—he’s a playmaker in all facets. Bishop has the athleticism to do it all, although his aggressiveness can often get him into trouble when playing deep. In split-safety looks with Jessie Bates, Bishop can be let loose a bit more and use his physicality to his advantage. I think he can develop into a truly versatile safety, but can start his career closer to the line of scrimmage with Bates handling deep responsibilities.

Round 5, Pick 143: LB Jordan Magee, Temple

Another player who has continued to climb up draft boards is Temple’s Jordan Magee. Originally projected in the late-Day 3 range, Magee’s athleticism and tape have seemingly boosted him up a round on many consensus boards. I like Magee quite a bit and think he’d fit right in to Atlanta’s linebacker depth chart. Here’s how I described him in a previous mock draft:

Magee is a tad undersized at 6’1, 228, but tested out exceptionally at the Combine and finished with an elite 9.29 RAS. Despite his size, he’s extremely physical and plays with a “hair on fire” style that is quite fun to watch. Magee’s tactics are sometimes unconventional, but he finds ways to make tackles by knifing and bouncing between blockers. He just finds ways to make plays. I think his ability is coverage is in need of development, but Magee could find a home as a depth linebacker and core special teams contributor while he works on the technical aspects of his game.

Round 6, Pick 187: CB Kamal Hadden, Tennessee

Atlanta has still not made a decision on A.J. Terrell’s future with the team, and the team would be wise to continue adding pieces to the secondary just in case. Tennessee’s Kamal Hadden is not a player I had watched until very recently, thanks to a shout-out by Trevor Sikkema. Hadden (6’1, 197) is a very intriguing developmental cornerback who could be an ideal fit for Atlanta’s defense—he’s just got some work to do before he gets there.

Hadden is a big, physical corner with excellent short-area quickness but a lack of deep speed. He’s likely to be a matchup player against big receivers, where he can use his aggressiveness and length to break up passes. Right now, Hadden’s biggest issue is his inconsistency, but the flashes show a prospect with Hadden’s tape was very good in 2023 after a few up-and-down seasons, but a season-ending shoulder injury significantly hurt his draft stock. Atlanta will need to check out his medicals, but his upside is worth the risk at this point in the draft.

Round 6, Pick 197: OT Javon Foster, Missouri

Pick acquired from Browns.

Atlanta still needs long-term options at tackle, with Kaleb McGary’s contract likely making him a cap casualty in 2025 and Jake Matthews heading into his age 32 season. One of my favorite Day 3 tackle prospects is Missouri’s Javon Foster, whose tape doesn’t necessarily “wow” in any one area but makes his mark with consistency and durability. Foster has experience on both sides of the line—though the majority of his snaps have been at left tackle—and checks the size box at 6’5.5, 313 and 34 5/8” arms.

Foster is a fairly average athlete (6.32 RAS), but overcomes those limitations with his length, hand usage, and savvy. He’s a steady presence in pass protection and very effective in the run game, particularly in zone. Foster also possesses outstanding durability and, starting all 13 games for the past three seasons. He’s not a high-upside, Pro Bowl-potential tackle, but he’s the rare Day 3 tackle prospect who could actually have a good chance at being a reliable swing tackle as a rookie. Just don’t expect his play to be overly flashy.

What do you think about this potential draft class for the Falcons? Leave some of your own draft takes in the comments below.