Phin Phanatic
FanSided

Miami Dolphins fill need in post Super Bowl first round mock

By Pablo Rosero

Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by Miami Dolphins as the number six overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by Miami Dolphins as the number six overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 32
Next
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – OCTOBER 26: George Karlaftis #5 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after his sack in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – OCTOBER 26: George Karlaftis #5 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after his sack in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Falcons select Purdue EDGE George Karlaftis at eight

EDGE. Purdue. 8. 44. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. GeorgeKarlaftis. player

The Atlanta Falcons had yet another down season and are still searching for answers. Ever since the team blew a 28-to-3 lead in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots in 2017, they have yet to find any winning solutions.

The team announced that they would keep Matt Ryan in 2022 and they hope to bring back Calvin Ridley, who sat out the second half of the season due to personal reasons. They got a lot out of Kyle Pitts, their top pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Russell Gage.

They have an above-average offensive line but are lacking a real push in the running game outside of Patterson’s change-of-pace.

The Falcons can’t go running back this early in the draft, but they can solve their defense. Outside of Hutchinson and Thibodeaux, Purdue’s George Karlaftis is a top EDGE rush prospect.

The Falcons only had 18 sacks on the season, with Dante Fowler Jr leading the way with 4.5 sacks on the season. In 2021, Karlaftis had 4.5 sacks, but he had 7.5 sacks his true freshman season in 2019.

Karlaftis may not be on the same level as Hutchinson and Thibodeaux, but he is an upgrade for the Falcons defensive front.

Home/Dolphins Mock Draft