3 moves the Atlanta Falcons should make after Day 1 of free agency

2. Add two edge rushers

Edge rushers are hard to come by. Lorenzo Carter isn’t going to be enough, they need two more guys. The great ones rarely hit free agency. The 2023 NFL off-season isn’t any different. After signing David Onyemata, Grady Jarrett has a worthy running mate, giving the Falcons a solid odd front. Getting guys that can come off the edge is a must. Leonard Floyd is a nice option for the Falcons.

The Los Angeles Rams struggled as a unit, but Floyd managed nine sacks. He could play as an off-ball backer used as a blitz guy.  Jadeveon Clowney is a guy who won’t give the Falcons high sack numbers, but he’s a nice player to pair with another edge rusher. There will not be a large market for him, so they can be patient and wait. Arden Key is another wait-and-see edge guy as well.

Free agency is step one. They need to address their edge problem in the draft. With the No. 9 pick, the Falcons could nab a guy with traits like Myles Murphy, who is a toolsy prospect with an excellent blend of size and athleticism. He can play with his hand in the dirt as an off-ball backer. Or, they can trade down and wait for a player like Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech), a 6’6″ 275-pound prospect who is a bit raw but could produce 8-10 sacks as a situational pass rusher. They could wait until Day two for a player with similar size, Army’s Andre Carter, 6’6.5″ nearly 260-pounds with long arms and ability to finish.