7. Atlanta Falcons (via WAS) - Austin Simmons, QB, Missouri
Trade! The Atlanta Falcons trade up 12 spots with the Washington Commanders to take Austin Simmons from Missouri, and while QB Michael Penix Jr is currently playing out of his mind, it's only been two games, and Penix has still been a lot closer to a 'bust' than anything else.
Penix has simply struggled to stay on the field, and it simply does not matter how good he can be. The availability is a concern at the moment. Unless Penix is able to legitimately stay on the field for the rest of the season and put something sustainable together, I don't see how QB is not considered for the Falcons in April.
The regime that drafted Penix back in 2024 is not there anymore, and you could realistically say that they do not have a connection to him and could move on as quickly as they stick with him depending on how the rest of the 2026 NFL Season goes. Austin Simmons has the prototypical size and arm strength you need from a franchise QB and could be someone worth developing for a year.
8. New Orleans Saints - Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
Colin Simmons is a great prospect and is hearing his name called quite early in the NFL Draft this year. He had 12 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss last year and is already up to nine tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks through four games this year.
No matter what era the NFL is in, there is always, always an emphasis on figuring out ways to get to the QB, and it's really one of the three most important qualities of a winning team, which also includes having the right QB and being able to protect him.
You could easily argue that the New Orleans Saints already have those two boxes checked.
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