The Falcons won’t have a first-round pick because they traded it last year in the deal to get back in the first round and take James Pearce.
The decision to pair Pearce with fellow first-round pick raised eyebrows back then. Not only was trading back into the first round aggressive, but they drafted two sub-250-pound edge-rushers.
The pairing had a predictable impact on their run defense. The Falcons were 27th in EPA allowed per rush and they might have to find a replacement for Pearce, he faces three felonies in relation to a February incident.
Pearce’s legal situation might put edge-rusher back on the menu of possibilities with the Falcons first pick at No. 48. R Mason Thomas should not be in consideration, though. He would pose similar on-field limitations to Pearce.
Thomas brings some real pass-rush juice, but at 6’2″, 249 pounds, he doesn’t have the length or size to hold up as an edge-setter in the run game. If the Falcons decide to address the edge it needs to be a bigger, more powerful prospect to pair with Walker.