NFL draft: Atlanta Falcons benefit if Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers add CBs in first round

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is a controversial figure. Either you respect him, you can’t stand him, or if you’re bald like me, you envy his full head of hair. Even if he isn’t coordinating and directing the Falcons draft like some GMs would, he’s still an active participant. What’s more, he’s still held solely responsible for bad personnel decisions - it’s his butt on the line.

Looking ahead to next month’s draft, the Falcons may opt to burn their first round pick on a pass rusher. Many Falcons fans and pundits see that as the team’s biggest need heading into the 2017 season. But what will be left from a talent standpoint by the time the Falcons pick at 31? Well, that depends.

The two teams that pick before the Falcons are the Green Bay Packers (29) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (30). Both teams want to add a pass rusher. The Packers already have Nick Perry and Clay Matthews, but from there, their depth chart gets dangerously thin. The Pittsburgh Steelers similarly have a big need at OLB. Lucky for the Falcons, both teams are also hurting mightily at cornerback. In fact, one or both teams taking a cornerback instead of a pass rusher could directly impact the options the Falcons can choose from when their name gets called at 31.

Your thoughts?