The Atlanta Falcons made a bold move by taking Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but it appears to have paid off after one season. Penix gave the team life over the final th

Onyemata signed with the Falcons as a free agent in 2023. The veteran defensive lineman had a great first year under Ryan Nielsen but was slightly less effective this season. It would be hard to imagine the team cutting both defensive linemen without clear replacements. Rookies Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus played sparingly last season.

After four years at Alabama, one at Ohio State and two national championships, the 6-4, 280-pound McLaughlin would bring a ton of experience to Atlanta. The Falcons are expected to try to re-sign Drew Dalman at center, but if they don’t, this position moves way up on the priority list.

Thanks to quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the Atlanta Falcons 2024 draft class avoided the bottom of the barrel on a list of last year's NFL draft classes from CBS Sports.

If Georgia stunk as a college football program, I would have not problem with my hometown Falcons shunning their players in the draft. However, Georgia has been one of the most consistently strong programs in college football for over a decade now.

The Atlanta Falcons enter this offseason needing to improve their pass rush, which ranked second-to-last in the NFL with 31 sacks this past season. It's a similar problem the Falcons have faced in several off-season's over the past two decades -- but perhaps this time,