KIPER HAS FALCONS TAKING LSU PASS RUSHER

Despite signing Dante Fowler in free agency, ESPN’s draft analyst Mel Kiper doesn’t think the Falcons are done addressing their meek pass rush.

In Kiper’s Mock Draft 3.0 he has the Falcons selecting LSU linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson with the 16th overall pick in the NFL draft.

The top pass rusher in the draft is Ohio State’s Chase Young, who’s slotted to go second to the Redskins.

The Falcons had just 28 sacks last season, which ranked tied for 31st in the league of 32 teams. The Dolphins were last with 23 sacks. Vic Beasley (eight sacks) left to sign with

Tennessee, and Takk McKinley (3.5 sacks) is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Chaisson, who’s 6 feet 3 and 254 pounds, has a 6.88 grade from NFL. com, which projects him as a quality starter just a level below being considered a“Pro Bowl”talent.

Kiper’s pick ignores the Falcons’ offensive line gave up 50 sacks and 135 quarterback hits last season, and the team had the 29th-ranked rushing attack.

Here’s what Kiper had to say about the Falcons’ pick: “The Falcons replaced Vic Beasley with Dante Fowler in free agency, but they shouldn’t stop there. General manager Thomas Dimitroff needs to add another premium pass rusher, either at edge or along the interior. Takk McKinley, a first-round pick in 2017, just hasn’t developed.

“After fighting through injuries, Chaisson had just 9.5 sacks in his college career, but he has a high ceiling, flashing elite get-off at the snap with a few pass-rushing moves in his arsenal.

“Before Atlanta picked up Todd Gurley to replace Devonta Freeman, I thought this might be a spot to watch for a running back.” Luke Kuechly, cornerback James Bradberry, safety Eric Reid, defensive end Mario Addison, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle Vernon Butler, tight end Greg Olsen, offensive tackle Matt Kalil, guard Trai Turner, defensive tackle Dontari Poe and quarterback Kyle Allen

Key additions/retentions: quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, wide receiver Robby Anderson, defensive end Stephen Weatherly, offensive tackle Russell Okung and guard John Miller

Draft picks: Seventh, 38th, 69th, 113th, 148th, 152nd, 184th and 221st overall

Carolina is moving on from former league MVP Newton and traded Allen, who started while Newton was injured in 2019. The Panthers are paying Bridgewater $33 million in up-front money. Bridgewater is a dink-and-dunk, game-manager type, but he’s an upgrade from Allen.

Defense is the issue for the Panthers. They invested a lot of money in their front before 2019 and still had the worst run defense in the league. Carolina’s wave of departing defenders includes the best player, Kuechly (retired). The massive amount of “dead” money on their cap means the Panthers won’t be able to replace Kuechly or any other good outgoing starter with a comparable player.