Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft Picks 2020: Round-by-Round Results, Grades

The Atlanta Falcons stumbled out of the gate last season, getting off to a 1-7 start through eight games. Atlanta recovered somewhat, going 6-2 in the final half of its season—tied for the best record in the NFC during that span—to finish the year with a 7-9 record for the second consecutive year. The Falcons missed the postseason for the second straight year.

In the 2019 NFL draft, the Falcons used their two first-round selections on offensive lineman, selecting guard Chris Lindstrom and No. 14 and tackle Kaleb McGary at No. 31. The team did not have a pick until the fourth round, however, when it selected cornerback Kendall Sheffield. It added defensive end John Cominsky at the end of the fourth round. In the fifth round, Atlanta selected running back Qadree Ollison and cornerback Jordan Miller. It concluded its draft by taking running back Marcus Green.

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According to The MMQB's NFC South team needs, the Falcons have an urgent need at cornerback and could use a more consistent force on their pass rush. Linebacker is another place Atlanta could look to improve early-on as the depth behind Foyesade Oluokun and Deion Jones is nonexistent. A consistent slot receiver is another positional void that could be filled in the upcoming draft.

A full list of Atlanta's picks will be updated below as the draft progresses.

Round 1, Pick 16 (No. 16 overall): A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

Andy Benoit's analysis: Terrell fits the long-bodied, rangy athletic profile of a cornerback in Dan Quinn’s Seahawks-style Cover 3 scheme. He changes directions soundly and can win through physicality or finesse. (In Atlanta, he’ll likely be encouraged to go with physicality.) This selection could be viewed as a mild admission of underachievement from 2018 second-rounder Isaiah Oliver, who likely will now be cemented into the nickel outside corner role that he was demoted to down the stretch last season. Second-year pro Kendall Sheffield becomes the likely full-time slot defender. If all goes well, Atlanta will have three quality corners, which would allow them to maximize those Cover 3 zone concepts and continue to quietly dabble in more man-to-man than people realize. Atlanta’s biggest need entering this draft was pass rusher—preferably an edge guy to align opposite free agent pickup Dante Fowler, which would enable Takk McKinley to slide inside. But this draft is light on ready-made first-round caliber pass rushers, and so Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff took the fuller value player. Grade: B-

Round 2, No. 47 overall: Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn

Andy Benoit's analysis: In some ways, Davidson—who played in Derrick Brown’s shadow at Auburn and was somewhat underappreciated—gives the Falcons another, more innately versatile version of Takk McKinley. He is a defensive end who has the tools to work off the edge or slide inside and play defensive tackle. That’s for 2020. For 2021 and beyond, Davidson potentially fills the role that the 2017 first-rounder McKinley, whose fifth-year option has not been picked up, has yet to fully maximize. After quietly going 6-2 in the second half of this season, this talented team is in “win now” mode. It needed more defensive line depth. A versatile player like Davidson can potentially solve multiple problems. Grade: B+

Round 3, No. 78 overall: Matt Hennessy, C, Temple

Andy Benoit's analysis: Stud center Alex Mack has shown flickers of decline. He’ll be 34 at the end of this season and no longer under contract. And so Hennessy steps into an ideal scenario: a starting job waiting in the wings, with a chance first to learn as an understudy to one of the game’s great veterans. Grade: A

Round 4, No. 113 overall: Mykal Walker, LB, Fresno State

Round 4, No. 134 overall: Jaylinn Hawkins, S, Cal

Round 7, No. 228 overall: Sterling Hofrichter, P, Syracuse

This story will be updated.