DETROIT — It's a new era of Falcons football in Atlanta.
With a brand new head coach in Raheem Morris, to a brand new quarterback in Kirk Cousins, things are finally looking up again in The A for the first time since the Matt Ryan era.
The Falcons can keep the momentum of the successful offseason going by capitalizing on its picks in this year's NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27 in Detroit.
Coming into the draft, the Falcons' biggest needs in this year's draft are an edge rusher, cornerback, defensive tackle, safety and a quarterback that can learn behind Cousins while he is in Atlanta, a-la Jordan Love behind Aaron Rodgers for several years.
The Dirty Birds have eight picks in this year's NFL Draft, including an additional third-rounder they acquired from Jacksonville in the Calvin Ridley trade and an additional sixth-rounder they acquired from Cleveland in the Deion Jones trade. Here's who they have selected thus far:
Falcons draft picks - 2024 NFL Draft
Round 1, Pick 8: QB Michael Penix Jr.
Round 2, Pick 35: DT Ruke Orhorhoro
Round 3, Pick 74: OLB Bralen Trice
Round 4, Pick 109: DT Brandon Dorlus
Round 5, Pick 143: ILB JD Bertrand
Round 6, Pick 186: RB Jase McClellan
Round 6, Pick 187: WR Casey Washington
Round 6, Pick 197: DT Zion Logue