Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It's officially draft month, and while the Falcons may be waiting a little longer than usual to make their first selection, the excitement is building nonetheless.

Atlanta was highly active during the first free agency period under general manager Ian Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski, and the draft provides them another crucial opportunity to strengthen their roster. The Falcons currently have five picks to work with, but Cunningham has made it clear he'd like to have more swings at the plate if they can acquire more selections.

For this exercise, however, I will be sticking to the five picks Atlanta has at the start of April. More specifically, the rounds in which those picks fall. Keep in mind that I'm not a professional scout, and the round projections were made through a combination of publicly available scouting reports and limited film review.

MORE POSITIONS IN THIS SERIES: Linebackers | Offensive Tackles

Atlanta's pass rush made a huge jump in Jeff Ulbrich's first season as defensive coordinator, going from second-to-last in sacks to producing the second-most in the league and setting a franchise record. The Falcons ranked 24^th against the run, however, and Stefanski has mentioned wanting a physical run defense. That starts in the interior, and it's why many of the names listed below are run-first defenders who would pair nicely on the inside with Brandon Dorlus and Ruke Orhorhoro, among others.

Here are some candidates who could make sense for Atlanta in each round they have a pick.

SECOND ROUND

Christen Miller — Georgia

Miller's name has been listed in the first round of many mock drafts, so he may be off the board before Atlanta picks. If he's not, though, the Falcons could benefit from adding another impact Georgia defender in the draft. Miller, who is 6-foot-4 and 321 pounds, made his teammates better by consistently absorbing double teams and holding the point of attack. He's also got tantalizing traits as a pass rusher, but the production never truly materialized in that area at Georgia. If he can develop that part of his game, the upside with Miller is legit.

Lee Hunter — Texas Tech

A 6-foot-4, 318-pound bull in the middle of the trenches. Hunter was an All-American anchor for one of the best defenses in the country last season and has the potential to be an impact player on early downs at the next level. He can take on double teams as a nose tackle and flashes some single-gap ability with surprising lateral agility and a nifty swim move.

THIRD ROUND

Dontay Corleone — Cincinnati

Corleone is a dancing bear at 6 feet and 340 pounds. Despite his weight, Corleone is quick off the ball with the burst to knife into gaps before linemen can get to him. He uses his height to his advantage and beats opponents with leverage and hand placement. With his size and strength, Corleone has the ability to become a reliable run defender as a pro, although there are some questions about his injury history and 2025 production.

Darrell Jackson Jr. — Florida State

Jackson was named Florida State's defensive MVP in 2025 after finishing with a career-high 45 tackles with 3 tackles for a loss and a sack. He has immense size at the position, clocking in at 6-foot-5 and weighing 315 pounds with a wingspan that ranks in the 99^th percentile, according to mockdraftable. Despite his height, Jackson has reps where he plays with great leverage and uproots offensive linemen to drive them into the backfield.

Domonique Orange — Iowa State

The man they call "Big Citrus" is a tried-and-true run defender for the middle of a team's defensive line. At 6-foot-2 and 322 pounds, Orange proved to be an immovable force for Iowa State's defense who used his length and strength to clog up the trenches. He will have a clear role early for NFL teams.

FOURTH ROUND

DeMonte Capehart — Clemson

At 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds, Capehart possesses a lot of the qualities teams look for in an interior defender. He's long and packs a punch behind his heavy hands, helping him fight off blocks and sit in his gap against double teams. Capehart is also light on his feet and helped his projection immensely by posting a 4.85-second time in the 40-yard dash at the combine. His vert of 33.5 was also in the 92^nd percentile at the position.

Chris McClellan — Missouri

As a senior, McClellan put together a season worth talking about in draft circles. He continued his upward trajectory and had the best year of his career with 48 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. That production came as part of a stacked defensive front, though, which left him with a lot of one-on-one opportunities. He has a lot to offer in the run game, but his pad level and explosiveness are areas to develop.

SIXTH ROUND

Zane Durant — Penn State

Unlike a lot of the other players on this list, Durant is an athletic 3-technique and not a body-engulfing run defender. He's 6-foot-1 and 290 pounds, putting him on the smaller end of the spectrum for an NFL defensive tackle, but his athleticism stands out. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.75 seconds at the combine, best among all interior defenders, and also performed very well in the vertical and broad jumps. The college production never matched the skill set, but in the final rounds of the draft, he's got traits worth taking a flier on.

SEVENTH ROUND

David Gusta — Kentucky

Gusta has the kind of snap-to-snap effort that coaches look for, and he will need to bring that to the next level as a developmental prospect. His best season came in 2024 as a junior, when he recorded 21 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 3 pass defenses and a sack for Washington State. He doesn't have great size for the interior, but he plays violently, has burst and shows good awareness.

Bobby Jamison-Travis — Auburn

With long arms and good size, Jamison-Travis looks the part of an NFL nose tackle. His strength is run defense, where he can lock out offensive linemen and make tackles across multiple gaps. He doesn't have the straight-line speed to chase down lateral plays, and he'll need to learn to disengage quicker from blocks. He has developmental upside as a run defender at the next level.