Meet your 2020 Atlanta Falcons draft class

We made it, everyone.

The Falcons chiefly prioritized defense in this one, adding potential starters at cornerback, defensive tackle, and linebacker, as well as safety depth. They also picked up an Alex Mack replacement for 2021 in Matt Hennessy and, of course, a punter. Let’s take a closer look.

Here’s your 2020 Atlanta Falcons draft class!

Round 1 - Pick 16: CB AJ Terrell, Clemson

The Falcons were in need of a corner after cutting Desmond Trufant. A pick with mixed reviews, Terrell brings size, speed, fluidity and toughness to the position. Everyone likes to bring up the National Championship game, but there were a long list of corners that suffered the same fate against LSU. This kid is very competitive and eager to improve.

Round 2 - pick 47: DT/DE Marlon Davidson, Auburn

I was very surprised to see Davidson on the board at this point. An absolute alpha male and leader, Davidson brings a level of nastiness that’s sorely needed on the defensive line. A very good athlete for his size, he also brings great versatility and can play a few positions along the line effectively. Watching this kid play next to Grady Jarrett for years to come will be a real treat.

Round 3 - pick 78: C/G Matt Hennessy, Temple

A technically sound player, Hennessy falls to the 3rd round which makes this a good value pick. Hennessy (I’ll never get tired of saying his last name) has a great football IQ and is an athlete at the position. Quinn has already stated he will compete for LG in 2020, but he’s the heir apparent to Alex Mack at center.

Round 4 - pick 119: LB, Mykal Walker, Fresno State

Versatility at its core. Walker is a very strong tackler and has played multiple positions. He showed good ability to stack and shed blockers and is a good blitzer. Walker also shows good field awareness and has an adequate ability to read the QB and close in zone coverage. Walker is a bit stiff in the hips but certainly has the length and ability to cover TEs at the next level, making him a nice fit for this team’s needs.

Round 4 - pick 134: S Jaylinn Hawkins, California

Hawkins is basically a box safety at the next level with some coverage ability. He has decent instincts for zone and plays with extreme physicality. Also has decent footwork in man coverage. His biggest issue is he looks for the big hit way too often, is a little undisciplined and may see some penalties as a result. The good news is his issues can be coached up, meaning he might step into a bigger role in 2021.

Round 7 - pick 228: P Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse

The Falcons end their draft with a punter Sterling Hofrichter is actually a pretty tough guy who isn’t afraid to tackle, though, with shades of Matt Bosher in that part of his game. He has a big leg and is primarily used as a punter and for kickoff duties. He’s certainly consistent in his duties, but the only thing that concerns me about him is he’s a bit small to be as aggressive in kick coverage as he is. We’ll see if he wrestles kickoff duties away from Younghoe Koo, but he should be the favorite to win the punter job over Ryan Allen.

What is your impression of this class?