The Atlanta Falcons entered the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25 with eight picks over the three-day draft.
And they gave us the first big surprise of the night, selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick rather than addressing some pressing needs on defense.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said this week his team will be looking for the best player available “for us” with every selection. Clearly, Fontenot believes Penix is a future star.
The Falcons did turn to defense on Day 2, trading up to select Ruke Orhorhoro, a defensive tackle from Clemson, with pick No. 35, and then gabbing Washington edge rusher Bralen Trice with pick No. 74 in the third round. They started Day 3 on defense, as well, taking Brandon Dorlus, a defensive tackle out of Oregon, with pick No. 109, and followed up with Notre Dame linebacker JD Bertrand with pick No. 109 in the fourth round.
GO DEEPER
Falcons NFL Draft Big Board: Projecting Day 1, 2 and 3 fits for Atlanta
Keep coming back here throughout the draft for analysis and grades for each Falcons pick.
Round 1
No. 8: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A super-aggressive triggerman, Penix can drive the football with quick game or attack one-on-one matchups down the field. Not only did he throw to NFL-caliber receivers at Washington, but he also benefited from an above-average offensive line, and his effectiveness plummeted when he felt the walls closing in (see the 2023 Michigan tape).
Overall, Penix is inconsistent in several key areas (mechanics, anticipation, pressure reaction), but his arm confidence and willingness to attack every square inch of the field can be a productive formula in the right situation. His mental toughness will be a strong selling point in NFL draft rooms.
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: C
And we’ve found our first stunner of the draft. Months after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $118 million deal, the Falcons are going quarterback — and it’s not J.J. McCarthy. It’s Penix, the near 24-year-old left-hander. This is beyond interesting and, for Cousins, perhaps a bit of deja vu to his Robert Griffin III days.
Penix is a talented passer, to be sure. But there are questions here. His age. His health (he’s had multiple leg injuries). The fact Cousins is making a fortune currently and his general accuracy and consistency are all question marks. Penix doesn’t throw the ball over the middle with nearly the confidence he shows outside the numbers. He’s going to have to figure out better answers vs. pressure, but his arm talent is outstanding. It’s hard to bet against Penix’s perseverance. At No. 8, though? To me, this is a reach. I know there were teams that loved Penix, but Atlanta could’ve helped itself elsewhere and opted against it. Time will tell.
Round 1 grades for all 32 picks
Josh Kendall’s analysis: How does Penix fit with the Falcons?
Round 2
No. 35 (from Cardinals): Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
Dane Brugler’s analysis
As a pass rusher, Orhorhoro doesn’t have a lot of clean wins on tape, but he converts his speed to power and plays with the quickness and balance to become more disruptive (studies boxing to help with his high, active hands). Against the run, he is hard to reach because of his lateral quickness to move up and down the line and he does a great job as a two-gapper with his ability to stack, locate and re-leverage.
Overall, Orhorhoro’s undeveloped pass-rush instincts and finishing skills cloud his next-level projection, but he displays intriguing movement skills and force at contact to continue getting better and better. He has NFL starting upside with the scheme versatility to play multiple positions, both inside and outside.
Scott Dochterman’s grade: D-
In Atlanta’s 3-4, the Falcons always can use size up front. Orhorhoro (6-4, 294) posted 24 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and nine passes defensed from 2021 through 2023. Orhorhoro has long arms (34 inches) and ran a 4.89 40-yard dash at the combine. He could be a good player long-term, but to make this pick this early in the second round and give up a third-rounder in the process? That’s a bit rich.
Josh Kendall’s analysis: How does Orhorhoro fit with the Falcons?
Round 3
No. 74: Bralen Trice, edge, Washington
Dane Brugler’s analysis
As a pass rusher, Trice is quick off the ball and at his best using his skilled, heavy hands and bull-rushing instincts to convert speed to power. You can feel his competitive edge on tape, but he doesn’t play loose at the top of his rush and is frequently a step slow to shed. Overall, Trice doesn’t have exceptional edge speed or length and needs to be more consistent in the run game, but his athletic urgency and violent play style will help translate his college disruption to the pros. He projects as a scheme-diverse rotational NFL end.
Nick Baumgardner’s grade: B+
Trice is a bit of an acquired taste, and his lack of size (32 ½ inch arms) and speed (4.72) certainly gave plenty of pause during the evaluation process. Still, his work ethic, competitive drive and general play violence at the point of attack will make him a presence on an NFL roster. Maybe not an every-down star, but he’s a high-floor player.
Round 4
No. 109: Brandon Dorlus, DT, Oregon
Dane Brugler’s analysis
A three-year starter at Oregon, Dorlus played up and down the line of scrimmage in defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi’s scheme, playing on the edge, over the tackle and on the interior. Over the last three years, he earned All-Pac-12 honors each season and posted nearly identical pressure numbers (46 in 2023, 46 in 2022 and 42 in 2021).
With his quick first step and long, strong arms, Dorlus can make his presence felt from various angles across the defensive line. He showed improved handwork in 2023 but is more of a “throw everything but the kitchen sink” type of player and needs to continue improving his pad level and building a move-to-move plan to be more efficient once engaged.
Overall, Dorlus needs to find better consistency on a snap-to-snap basis, but he has the natural power and agility to be a versatile disruptor in an NFL defensive line rotation. He projects best as a base end (in even or odd fronts) who can also reduce inside on sub-packages.
Dorlus, 6-3, 289 pounds, played five seasons for the Ducks, totaling 12 sacks, including five last season. Like Orhorhoro, Dorlus could play every spot along the Falcons’ three-man front, something that Raheem Morris highly covets.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) April 27, 2024
Round 5
No. 143: JD Bertrand, LB, Notre Dame
Dane Brugler’s analysis
An instinctive player, Bertrand diagnoses play speed well in the run game and closes with urgency, because he trusts what his eyes tell him. He gets everything out of his talent, but some of his tightness creates a small margin for error in his movements.
Overall, Bertrand is sawed-off with only adequate range in coverage, but he processes well with the play recognition skills and competitive makeup that will endear him to NFL coaches. He projects as a backup linebacker with rotational value in the NFL.
Round 6
No. 186 (from Cardinals)
No. 187
No. 197 (from Browns)
(Photo of Brandon Dorlus: Tom Hauck / Getty Images)
