Niner Noise
FanSided

2020 NFL Draft: 32-team Round 1 mock after Week 4

By Peter Panacy

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 33
Next
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 08: Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes gives chase to runningback David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half on September 8, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 08: Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes gives chase to runningback David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half on September 8, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

8. player. 878. . Defensive Line. Hawkeyes . A.J. Epenesa

The Atlanta Falcons have turned into one of the league’s biggest disappointments. And at 1-3 over the first quarter of 2019, it’s anyone’s guess whether or not head coach Dan Quinn’s job is safe beyond this season.

A safe bet would say no, which could affect how Atlanta approaches its first pick in the NFL Draft.

But with plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, it’s likely the first pick winds up going towards the defense.

Addressing the secondary would make some sense here, and the linebacker group hasn’t been great. Yet targeting a solid pass-rusher with some versatility would do some good, too.

Iowa defensive lineman A.J. Epensa can line up off the edge or as a more-traditional 5-technique, giving whoever is in charge of the Falcons defense a lot of flexibility. It would also allow Atlanta to move on from EDGE Vic Beasley as an anchor point of the defense, as Beasley hits free agency in 2020 after two-plus years of disappointing efforts.