The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Falcons help defensive line with Kinlaw

- By D. Orlando Ledbetter dledbetter@ajc.com

After wrapping up the free agency signings, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn addressed the revamped roster and shined some light on their draft needs.

The Falcons will enter the draft looking to land help along the defensive line, cornerback, left guard and backup swing tackle.

While they like defensive end Steven Means and will use John Cominsky in an increased role, they know they need more defensive line help.

They are set at linebacker since Quinn said “he knows” Foye Oluokun is ready to take over for De’Vondre Campbell.

In the latest mock draft, South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw slips to the Falcons at No. 16.

“With the addition of Dante (Fowler) to the group, we like where that is headed,” Quinn said while perhaps tipping off there’s more work to do. “That’s a lot of reps and snaps (1,656 defensive snaps loss from last season) that you just indicated those guys that played meaningful snaps over the last few years.”

Fowler, Means and Cominsky could take up most of the snaps with the loss of Vic Beasley, Adrian Clayborn and Jack Crawford. Since there are no pass rushers worthy of selecting at No. 16, the Falcons can try to improve the pass rush by getting Kinlaw and placing him next to defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. They re-signed defensive tackle Tyeler Davison to play the run.

A pass rushing front of Fowler, Jarrett, Kinlaw and Takk McKinley (shoulder surgery) has some potential.

The Falcons had a strong draft in 2016, but the past couple have been lackluster. Are there any lessons to be learned from the 2016 draft that produced safety Keanu Neal (one Pro Bowl), linebacker Deion Jones (one Pro Bowl), tight Austin Hooper (two Pro Bowls) and Campbell (led team in tackles in 2018 and 2019) and reserve guard Wes Schweitzer?

“Well, look, I believe we felt like we had a lot of really good athletes in that draft,” Dimitroff said. “We felt like we got them on the field right away. We played them. We understood that they were going to have their shortcomin­gs along the way.

“I’m a big believer in that. I know Dan (Quinn) is. We have to be mindful when we get the young guys in, they’re not going to be perfect, of course. They’re going to have their flaws. But we need to get them in action right away and help them evolve as soon as we can in today’s world in this league. I think we did a really good job with that in ’16.”

 ?? AP 2019 ?? Former South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw would fit nicely next to Grady Jarrett and keep guards off of middle linebacker Deion Jones.
AP 2019 Former South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw would fit nicely next to Grady Jarrett and keep guards off of middle linebacker Deion Jones.

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