The Atlanta Falcons have plenty of questions to answer this offseason. While the future of Kirk Cousins is the biggest topic, Atlanta also has to find a way to improve a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018.
The Falcons were proactive by taking Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth-overall pick in last April’s draft, but their foresight came at the expense of their defense. Atlanta’s front seven struggled last season as they ranked tied for 11th with 4.5 yards per carry, 25th with a 20% pressure rate, and 31st with 31 sacks.
Adding dynamic players up front has become a priority heading into the offseason and it could lead them to a talented prospect who made a good impression at the Senior Bowl.
Chris Paul Jr. “Hit It Off” With Falcons at Senior Bowl Meeting
According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Falcons were one of 13 teams that met with Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr. at last week’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. While Paul told Melo that he felt great about every team he met with, he specifically mentioned that his best meetings came with the Falcons coaching staff.
“I feel like I had a great interview with every team I sat down with,” Paul said. “A couple of teams I felt it went really well with were the Falcons. I spoke with them a bunch...I feel like all of my interviews went well. It was a true blessing. It was a dream, a surreal moment. This is something I’ve been working hard for my entire life. To be living in this moment right now, it’s a true blessing.”
Paul played some politics by listing every team that he met with during the interview, but he’ll be a coveted prospect come draft time. Paul led the Rebels with a team-high 88 tackles and 11 tackles for loss and has already improved his stock during the draft process with impressive performances at the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.
This is no surprise, as Paul recorded a career-high grade of 87.2 last season with an 83.9 pass rushing grade and an 84.6 run defense grade, according to Pro Football Focus. Paul was also strong in coverage with a 78.1 grade and is currently No. 65 on PFF’s big board for April’s draft.
The Falcons will need to find a few players up front between free agency and the draft, but it seems like they’re off to a good start, landing a rapport with one of the top linebackers in the class.