The Falcons came into the 2024 draft knowing just how much they needed to upgrade their pass rush at all positions. Last season, Atlanta did have 42 sacks, but as Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree — both lost in free agency — tied for the team lead with 6.5 each, general manager Terry Fontenot and new head coach Raheem Morris needed new blood to avoid a further backslide.
The hope is that third-year edge-rusher Arnold Ebiketie can step up, and there have been encouraging signs in that department. But after the controversial first-round pick of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta went all in on its defensive line from there.
The Falcons took Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro with the 35th overall pick in the second round, Washington edge-rusher Bralen Trice with the 74th overall pick in the third round, and Oregon do-it-all guy Brandon Dorlus with the 109th overall pick in the fourth round.
Of those three picks, Dorlus has a shot at being the most immediately effective player, and perhaps the best draft steal over time. Last season for the Ducks, the 6-foot-3, 290-pound Dorlus had four sacks, seven quarterback hits, 35 quarterback hurries, and two tackles for loss… and he did so aligned in multiple gaps.
Oregon's Brandon Dorlus — one of my favorite defensive linemen in this draft class. 44% outside, 43% D-tackle, 13% nose. Creates pressure from everywhere, like on this rep vs. Texas Tech where he just knifed through a double-team. pic.twitter.com/Kc5YGWkRzk
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 2, 2024
“The cool part about Dorlus was his pass rush, his inside pass rush, his ability to move around and pass rush and be disruptive. That’s what most attracted us to him,” Morris said after the pick was made.
“It was less about Ruke, when Ruke had the ability to play nose, a little 4-I. He has the ability to play 3 tech. Dorlus can do some of those things, but his primary trait would be playing on the edge of a human and absolutely winning on the pass rush, attacking edges, attacking some of those things, creating that disruption up front that we can use sort of like a Grady [Jarrett]. Being able to get the rotation inside with those guys rushing the passer, I feel like can really help us.
“That’s an area of need that we talked about. I know sometimes we get caught up with just the edge, but that interior rush that we developed around here with the two older guys that we have and our two veterans, to be able to add somebody inside there that can do some of the things, we thought would be pretty critical for us. And once again Terry found a great one out in Oregon.
“And lucky enough he was coached by some people that we know very well in Tosh Lupoi out there in Oregon that was with us in Atlanta the first time around who I have a lot of respect for and some of the things he said.”
Morris has a point — several, actually. Two of Dorlus’ sacks and 23 of his total pressures came off the edge, and you don’t expect a 290-pound guy to make plays like this.
One of Brandon Dorlus' best moves at Oregon was to line up over the tackle at an angle, and just blow up the poor guard. Did a lot of work near and off the edge for a 290-pound guy. The Falcons could certainly use it! pic.twitter.com/1GQfi0Bfwz
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) June 30, 2024
Morris’ point about the importance of interior pressure is also well-founded. As the NFL becomes more of a quick-game passing league, edge defenders aren’t always going to be able to get home against one-step drop throws. As the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, it makes sense that the Falcons are doing as much to reinforce their defensive interior as they are focusing on the edge.
And at his best, Brandon Dorlus could be the one who ties it all together.