Falcons linebacker De’Vondre Campbell led the team in tackles in 2019, his fourth season in the league. As a former fourth-round pick, he’s set to finally cash in on his outstanding production, just not likely in Atlanta.
Head coach Dan Quinn would certainly like to keep Campbell, but the team’s top-heavy roster has caused salary cap constraints that make his return unlikely.
Here are seven linebacker options for the Falcons in the 2020 draft.
Kenneth Murray — Oklahoma
2019 Stats: 102 tackles (69 solo), 4 sacks, 4 passes defended
Projection: Rounds 1-2
Analysis: Murray stands out on film and his performance at the combine showed he has elite speed for the position (4.52 40-yard dash time). He’s the perfect modern linebacker that can play inside or outside, and would give the Falcons another athletic talent to pair with Deion Jones. Dan Quinn loves speed on defense and while Murray’s overall game needs refinement, his effort level and aggressiveness make him an ideal fit for Atlanta. Although, the team would likely need to target him in round one.
Video: Watch Murray (No. 9) flying to the ball against Texas Tech below.