The 2025 NFL draft is roughly two weeks away and mock drafts are coming out at record speed. With obvious holes on defense, many expect the Atlanta Falcons to focus on that side of the ball in the early rounds of the draft. The team currently holds the 15th and 46th overall picks.
While the Falcons don’t have a ton of draft capital, there should be some quality edge options available in the first two rounds. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper released his latest two-round mock draft on Tuesday, projecting two defensive players to the Falcons.
In Round 1, Kiper once again mocked Marshall edge Mike Green to Atlanta. The mix of value and need at pick No. 15 just makes too much sense to the ESPN analyst.
“Suddenly, there’d be some optimism around the pass rush, with Green and free agent signing Leonard Floyd flying in off the edge,” Kiper wrote. “Green mixes in speed and power to keep offensive tackles on their heels, and his ability to stop the run means coach Raheem Morris could keep him on the field no matter the situation.”
Green has the production to warrant this selection (17 sacks in 2024), and despite playing against inferior competition, he held his own during Senior Bowl week. In the second round of Kiper’s draft, the Falcons took Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
“Morrison looked like a first-rounder early in the 2024 season, before a hip injury ended his campaign,” wrote Kiper. “He’s an extremely talented press corner with good technique. Opponents completed passes at will against Atlanta last season; the Falcons’ 69.9% completion percentage against was bottom of the league.”
The Falcons just re-signed nickel cornerback Dee Alford on Monday, but that likely won’t keep them from addressing the secondary at some point in this year’s draft. Morrison would provide excellent value in Round 2 and give Atlanta a better long-term option to play opposite A.J. Terrell.
The Notre Dame standout’s season was cut short due to a hip injury, but he’s holding a workout for NFL teams on April 21 to help solidify his first-round status. The Falcons signed Mike Hughes to a three-year, $18 million contract, so they have a capable starter in place so they wouldn’t have to rush Morrison along.
The 2025 NFL draft begins on Thursday, April 24 and runs through Saturday, April 26.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Falcons projected to take Notre Dame DB in Round 2