The Atlanta Falcons added eight players in the 2022 NFL draft over the weekend, addressing needs and potentially landing multiple Week 1 starters.
After giving our starting lineup projection for Atlanta’s offense on Monday, here’s our post-draft projection for the team’s starting defense in 2022.
DL: Grady Jarrett
(AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Jarrett’s future in Atlanta was uncertain until the team gave him a three-year extension on Tuesday. Playing on a defensive line with mostly unproven talent around him, Jarrett’s work ethic, leadership and consistency make him a valuable piece of this retooled Falcons defense. With some new pieces around him, perhaps we will get to see what he’s truly capable of this season.
DI: Anthony Rush
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The Falcons didn’t draft any interior defensive linemen and Rush lined up at the nose tackle spot more than anyone currently on the roster. The team released Tyeler Davison for cap space at the start of free agency, while re-signing Rush for another year.
DL: Ta’Quon Graham
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
This one is a tough call as both Graham and third-year lineman Marlon Davidson played a similar amount of snaps last season. I think Graham has the slight edge going into the year, and it always helps when you’re drafted by the current coaching regime as opposed to the previous one.
OLB: Lorenzo Carter
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Atlanta signed former Georgia Bulldogs OLB Lorenzo Carter in free agency and he should easily move into the starting lineup. The athletic, rangy edge rusher had 23 hurries and five sacks last season for New York. Obviously, nobody is suggesting the former Giant is Lawrence Taylor, but Carter is just 26 years old and has plenty of upside in the right situation.
OLB: Arnold Ebiketie
(AP…
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