The first phase of NFL free agency took the entire sports world by storm this year. New deals, trades, legendary quarterbacks returning after only a month of retirement are just a few things we saw in the last few weeks. However, the business was handled for the most part as many teams have all but finished their major free-agent spending sprees. Over 4 billion dollars was committed to new contracts during the first phase of NFL free agency.
The common adage for professional football is to use the free agency period to address needs on your roster ahead of the NFL draft.
This year’s free-agent spending spree will have a huge impact on the 2022 NFL draft. Here’s how our friends at The Draft Wire see the first three rounds of the draft going down in their latest mock draft.
58. Atlanta Falcons (from TEN) | Oklahoma DL Perrion Winfrey
In trading franchise wide receiver Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans, the Falcons received a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, which Luke Easterling believes the Falcons could use on Oklahoma defensive tackle [autotag]Perrion Winfrey[/autotag]. Winfrey had been previously mocked to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the post scouting combine mock at pick 52, but Winfrey sees a bump after free agency and is headed to Atlanta.
According to PFF, no defensive line turned in a more abysmal pass-rushing grade than Atlanta’s defensive line. Winfrey adds youth, athleticism, and some swagger to a rebuilding Falcons defense that certainly needs it.
74. Atlanta Falcons | Oklahoma EDGE Nik Bonitto
If it works once, try it again. That’s what the Falcons would hope is the case as the Draft Wire has them doubling up on Oklahoma defenders and sending lightning bolt edge rusher extraordinaire to Atlanta to tag team with Winfrey. [autotag]Nik Bonitto[/autotag]’s biggest knock is his size, but his productivity and athleticism are too impressive to ignore.
Sometimes you can’t overthink things. Very few college players have been as productive rushing the passer as Nik Bonitto was during his time in college.
Pass Rush Win Rate (per PFF, using 2020 & 2021 data)
– Nik Bonitto (99th percentile)
– Kingsley Enagbare (93rd)
– Aidan Hutchinson (90th)
– George Karlaftis (90th)
– Kayvon Thibodeux (84th)
– Arnold Ebiketie (76th)— Spencer Thompson (@ThompsonNFL) March 13, 2022
Drafting Bonitto alongside Winfrey gives the Falcons’ pass rush a significant facelift.
Winfrey and Bonitto are two spark plug players who thrive off their motor and athleticism and would be very formidable, lining up on the same line together again as they did while they were in Norman together. A draft like this for Atlanta would likely make them a better defense, if nothing else, because of the talent they have rushing the passer.
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