Atlanta gets top-three cornerback prospects in 3-round mock draft

THE Atlanta Falcons The Falcons finished the 2023 NFL season with a 7-10 record and third place in the NFC South. They won seven games despite the quarterback shakeup. While Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke were uninspiring, the Falcons had enough playmakers offensively to at least make things interesting.

In addition to the offseason hiring of Raheem Morris, the Falcons addressed their quarterback problem by signing Kirk Cousins ​​to lead an offense featuring Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and 2023 first-round pick Bijan Robinson. The team also shook the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting quarterback prospect Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick.

While it was a controversial pick, the Falcons added QB insurance and their future signal caller with the pick, allowing the team to address other needs in the 2025 NFL DraftBy conducting mock drafts before training camp across the league, needs and circumstances can change, but this NFL Mock Draft is based on what team needs might be once the 2024 NFL season is over, as things currently stand.

As for draft position, the Falcons will pick around No. 21 based on their projected record in 2024. Obviously, that can change, too. Here’s the first three-round mock draft for the 2025 NFL season for this NFC South favorite.

With the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Falcons select the star cornerback from Ohio State Denis Burke.

A former 4-star out of Arizona State, Burke immediately made his impact and potential as a cornerback known during his first season at Ohio State. Earning Freshman All-American honors, Burke put his potential on display and became one of the top defensive players in the Big Ten. With his versatility as a pass rusher, Burke will be intriguing for many teams looking for talent in the secondary. He can play multiple coverages and still has some room to grow.

With his combination of speed, length, and physicality, Burke could become the top cornerback heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, which means he could be out of reach for the Falcons depending on what kind of season they have, but as it stands, Burke would be a tremendous addition to the Falcons defense, either playing alongside AJ Terrell or replacing him if he can’t get an extension with the team.

The Falcons continue to bolster their defensive secondary with the selection of Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa.

As one of the top safety prospects, Nwankpa finished the 2023 season “as the country’s most precious security” According to PFF stats, he has an above-average winning percentage with an 88.4 coverage grade. Overall, an athletic safety who displays a tremendous football IQ and can cover large portions of the field due to his speed and perception.

He also has nice size (6’2″, 210 lbs) and would be a great addition to the Falcons defense. In 2023, he had 42 tackles with 1 sack and 1 interception, which shows his versatility and the different ways he can be used on defense. He would be a great complement to Jessie Bates to shore up a safety group that enters the 2024 NFL season as a big question mark.

Falcons bolster offense with receiver selection Antwane Wells Jr. from the University of Mississippi.

At this point in the game, the Falcons have Drake London and Rondale Moore leading the receiving core, but with Moore heading to free agency in 2025, the Falcons will look to add receiver depth in the third round. Wells Jr. will fit right in in Atlanta as another weapon for Kirk Cousins.

With a large frame for a receiver, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Wells was an All-SEC and All-American selection in the 2023 preseason before his season was cut short by injury. That could put him under the radar a bit next season, but his production at South Carolina before transferring to Ole Miss ranks him among the top receivers in the country. Can he get back there? With another deep receiving class expected in 2025, Wells could be a steal for a team like the Falcons, especially with his physicality as a receiver.