 What's up everybody and welcome to another edition of the Falcons final whistle. I'm Scott bear alongside Tori McElaney and Chris rim And as we do each week we are going to answer a question of our own shoe Okay, of Tori McElaney's choosing let's be honest And we're gonna offer great perspective. We're gonna offer rationality We're gonna bring all the things you hope for in sporting discourse You're probably not gonna generally find on talk radio. God bless y'all, but it's true Nonetheless, we are going to tackle a big one this time one where I'm sure a lot of people have a lot of different positions Or a lot of different opinions and that is what is the Falcons biggest need? Now the one thing is there's plenty of positions to choose from on this roster You can go a number of different directions You can definitely prioritize and I think it brings into greater scope one absolute unquestionable fact is that This Falcons roster as it works its way through the salary cap needs a lot of work man It really does needs a lot of work and a lot of different areas and you can't dispute that now What you can dispute is how you would rank things, right? And I think that's kind of what we're going to get into over the course of the next half hour And we're gonna kind of break this thing down But before we start saying which positions we feel like are the biggest need and can we address it or can the Falcons address it through? Fragency or the draft or both Tori I want to go back to something that Terry Faunno said and the story that you wrote shortly after the end of the season press conference something like that After the senior ball after the senior ball that basically said When he was talking about best player available some people freak out because they think Falcons have so many needs Well best player available will always address a need Yeah, well especially for yeah No if you look at this Falcons roster and this is kind of the gist of what I was saying in that article that you're referring to is that when Terry Faunno says that they're gonna draft a best the best player available for the Falcons that essentially means that you are also Drafting for need because that's how many needs this specific Falcons team has in 2022 And so when you're looking at it you're more likely than not it doesn't matter what direction they go in It's gonna be a need and something that I thought Terry Faunno said that I think a lot of people maybe think is like a cop out and saying it But I do think it's very true considering where the organization is. He's like If he's like essentially like you're always drafting for need because you think about it like at any point in the next two Three years you're always gonna come back around and need a different type of player and a different type of position And I think like but in this specific case with the Falcons in 2022 It's like there's a lot of needs like a lot as you alluded to like there are just so many And I think you can go up and down this roster and pick Any area honestly that you want to and you could make an argument that it's a need and that it will be either this off season or Next off season and I do I do kind of believe that I do just believe that's just where this organization is right now All right Chris, I'm officially going off script. We've been in this podcast for five minutes So that seems brand. We're talking a lot about a lot of needs Right and a lot of things that if you're looking at it as a GM or as a personnel person that okay, they have You know a severe need here or there are there any positions Outside of you know punter or some of the obvious kind of specialist ones Are there any needs that you would take off the table something that isn't worth? Consideration not just at a but is there an area of this team where you feel really comfortable It's okay if the answer is no, but I'm curious what you think I would probably say Jake and Chris are pretty solid. I mean Jake, Jake Matthews makes a lot But Jake Jake Matthews and Christian are pretty pretty solid Yeah, I'll say outside of that Yeah, but she's doing you need another tight end in this offense. I would say that's not a need I was kind of aiming you towards towards that like interior linebacker spot But then I was thinking okay. No because then foyer is a free agent, right? So then you get an application there Yeah, yeah, I don't do anything. I'll take off the table really I think it's all it's like Torrey said, I think it's I mean in general I think best player available is the way to do it, you know And what they think I think is is definitely the way to do it But yeah, especially with this team best player available is feeling a need like Torrey said. Yeah Well, something that I think is interesting and you know when Terry and Arthur first took over here in Atlanta Like they said that everything's kind of on the table and that no player is Essentially safe to a certain degree. That's not the words that they use but that's essentially what they meant and I Think there are a lot of times when new regimes come in and they say that like they sometimes don't mean it I 1000% believe with Arthur Smith Terry font now and they're a whole crew that when they say That every option is on the table. I really do believe that I really do. Yeah, and I think that's key And I think prioritizing Needs may be the way that you go or you just build up the roster slowly Understanding that it's going to take more than one year to get the talent base to where it needs to be So over the course the next half hour ish we're gonna Go over a number of different topics that Torrey has laid out for us Which is where is the Falcons most glaring need and of the position group that you choose chose Can't read today who are a few players You believe could be a good fit for the Falcons and of the players you named is one You wouldn't pass up on if he's there at number eight overall in the NFL draft But before we get to that let's offer as we always do a big. Thank you to our sponsor Microsoft Windows 11 the official operating system of the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons The all-new Windows 11 is here to bring you closer to what you love like, you know Falcons final whistle podcast learn all about the awesome new features of Windows 11 at windows.com so question number one within the grander question is Torrey let's start with you since we did before Since it's your question you might as well have the first opportunity here What is the file? Where is the Falcons most glaring need? This is Torrey asking Torrey a question for Torrey to answer That's pretty meta at this point. Yeah, it's meta. What is uh, yeah, no, it definitely is. I love it No, but to answer my own question that I posed to myself I Just okay, so I'm a I'm a backtrack so Scott's been on vacation for the last couple days and while he was on vacation Chris and I ran baremail and We were getting questions and we were answering and one of the questions I don't know who wrote it. I just kind of saw it, but it was like Torrey Um, I hope you're not like Scott and trying to shove an edge rusher down our throats like Yeah, and I was just like That's exactly what I'm about to do I'm about to shove and I in our written portion of this question of the week Segment installment, whatever you want to call it I said that I'm gonna sit here and say like I'm gonna shove the idea of drafting multiple edge rushers Down your throat until draft night like there will be I personally I just cannot Look at this roster Especially now that they've released Dante Fowler, which I think we all assumed was coming I can't look at this roster and not have Edge rushers pass rush at as a number one need I can't I can't do it And I think it's one of those things where this Question of how the Falcons can develop a pass rush is one that's going to hinge and Dictate the success of this regime and I 100% believe that because in the past in years past This organization has missed so much on edge rushers and we're not just talking about Dante Fowler I'm talking about a bunch of other people who came before him And I think like they there were so many times where the money that was given to these edge rushers Didn't pan out and they didn't they they didn't do enough With the money that they were given and I think because of that you that's why you saw the Falcons get into a few situations Where they honestly were losing money. They're paying these players a lot of money and then they weren't doing a Gosh darn anything with it like and I think like that if you're a Falcons fan and have been for a very long time That's frustrating and I think that the one way that this organization under this new leadership Can say that they are different is to actually go out and develop a past rush And I'm not saying that this is going to change in one draft class But it's something that you would hope to see change in two three four years To where they can go back and say like this was a glaring need that we saw in the organization and we changed that So that's a long spiel and I will continue to hold on to that until draft night And and you will hear and I will not be putting any other need before past rush period No one's going to be able to change my mind and the beauty of you going first, right? Is that you've taken edge rusher and it's okay to stay in that realm though. It absolutely is because It's such a glaring thing, right? I mean Chris do you fall into that camp or do you go a different direction? Where do you land? I mean, um, I Yeah, I think that's the most glaring need I think everyone like I said, I think everyone on Twitter tells me that my replies Think Cobb and Zion was in there the other day saying that so Everyone everyone is has said that and I think that's you know 18 sex I think now I was looking back. I think the bangles had 17 last year and then Scott, I don't know if you were in Oakland 2018, but they're 13. So if you're you might be the problem here But yeah, so when you have like players, you know, I was second year and you know your entire defense That's definitely an issue and I think also with a pass rush, right AJ Toreau looks a lot different Your secondary looks a lot different if you're the second best guy in the league and you look at the other pass rushes there when you look at You know, Jayla Ramsey is playing with Aaron Donald and Vaughan Miller You look at the the amount of interceptions Trayvon Diggs had is because he's playing with the defensive line It's getting after the quarterback. So yeah, I think it's the biggest need but I think The issue is when you when you have a need like this is if you reach and you miss it's not It's gonna be it's not a good thing to do. So that's why again, I'm big on I'm big on Derek Stingley I like I like I like Saul's gardener, too, but I'm big on Stingley. I mean he what he did He's injury concerns and and you know quarter having two locked down cornerbacks. I mean Stingley was a freshman when the year AJ Toreau went in the draft and he was an all-american that year He did Toreau was a first-round pick and and but Toreau wasn't an all-american So it's like this guy was 18 years old playing in the SEC and he Led the conference and interceptions and he ran a 4-3 in high school as a 42-inch vert and he's 6-1 195 it's like this guy is kind of I don't know why you just look at his measurables and what he's done He's he's a guy like I was like that, you know, Kyle Hamilton and like we said before I think the past rush is the most glaring knee But again, if you're sitting there and you are not in love with the guy if Kavon is not there If if there's not if there's not if you like the guy from Purdue George Carl Aftis Or you like the edge rusher from Georgia or like the guy from Michigan whoever you're in love with That's who you should take if you're not in love with an edge rusher there I think don't reach because like Tori said in the past they've missed on that There was you know Vic Beasley who had a good season but kind of went down there And it's just a slippery slope if you try to reach for that big knee Yeah Right UCLA Love there. Sorry. Sorry Scott We can talk about the UGA guys in the draft and make you feel better Oh my goodness the amount of bare male questions I get about Georgia defenders and why there aren't very many here As part of the Falcons staggering volume and I've been thinking about this and look at the past rush is It's it's apparent how bad they need it and when Chris brings up That was the year 2018 was after they traded Khalil Mack they cut Bruce Irvin. They had nothing, right? But there were times where they were last in sacks with Khalil Mack They had like 22 sacks and he had like 12 or something and and I agree with you wholeheartedly that the past rush can impact everything you do You know front to back back to front right complimentary football what every coach on the planet earth has ever said And I agree with all those things and I'm not saying that you address this need at number eight but And people will not love this right because you it seems like there are two camps There are edge rusher camps and then they are protect your quarterback. Please camps, right? Yeah, I'm not going in either one. Okay Um, I forget Forget all those things right? Um There's only one receiver Who who finished last year with the team under contract? That's frank darby. Kyle. Kevin Ridley is the other one and Even though I mean owner owner arthur blank said it they would like to have him back It's possible that calvin wants a fresh start. There's a level of uncertainty there. Okay. He doesn't come back. They got nothing Nothing, I'm glad that you're bringing this up because I feel like we need to talk about this Yeah, and I think this is a need that the falcons have not had in years at wide receiver Because they've used a lot of high picks on wide receivers hulu calvin Even what you know that and pile is a pass catcher, right that they're but they've also hit Almost every time with these guys Like there. Yeah, who do you like there? At number eight. Yeah, the guy from usd Your right. You're gonna take the guy from usd That would make my heart. I do really like him My wife is from arkansas. So trail on berks may have a certain affinity But uh, I do like the drake london kid out of usd. Nonetheless, I just see Wide receiver that so when I covered that I covered the raiders and then the 49ers and they made up shirts George kittle and diva samuel and kyle use check that said yak bros. Okay, because everybody on their team Kendrick born did the same thing they were they took pride in turning a five-yard pass into an 815 yard game Right, and I think if you look at the success that aj around had with arthur smith and vice versa That I think that that type of player needs to get injected into this offense And at times those guys are another one of those premium spots. So yes, they need to protect matt ryan. He's not He's maddie wheels, but he's no gazelle, right? That's a given But I just think that you need more players who are tough more guys who can catch the ball I think too often. Yes, this this offense stalled because He he wasn't protected enough it also stalled because he didn't have anywhere to throw the ball, right? There's no separation russ was having to make crazy acrobatic catches while covered on third and blank So ultimately I'm going to go. Yeah in that direction. I'm going to say Receiver is an issue whether calvin comes back or not. I think the level of uncertainty Who knows when that will get remedied if when the falcons and calvin will have a good idea of what will happen next But that's a huge question that needs to be answered Moving forward. I don't care what that answer is. I still think wide receiver is huge Um, and that obviously doesn't discount everything chris was saying about stingy means that they need everybody needs a player like that I'm a stingy guy too, but A quarterback issue, right offensive tackle. We're not blind. That's an issue left guard. That's an issue. There's Who knows maybe off the ball linebacker is an issue so many different places Um can cause problems and just by me saying receiver doesn't mean that I don't I can't also acknowledge Again rational discourse. I can't also acknowledge that pass rusher is a huge problem Um, so nonetheless, let's move on here to topic Numero dose of the position group you chose who are a few players that you believe could be a good fit For the falcons. I I assume that would mean free agency draft or what have you? Yeah, I I went draft. I'm glad that chris went free agency. Um Because I think well, I think you went free agency. Yeah Yeah, okay. I'm sorry. We're for those that are listening. I'm legit just like looking at what we wrote I forgot already. Um Yeah, no, I mean, I think like for me if I'm just looking at the draft I think You're happy with the way that this draft class looks um when it comes to edge rushers, I I think like Aidan Hutchinson is going is not going to be there at eight. Um, I think cave on tibido, I think Could maybe be there at eight maybe I'm that's a hard maybe that's not like oh, maybe it's that's a hard maybe Uh, I don't if he's there Here's the thing and you can this is where you can get into so many different Topics of conversation in the draft. Let's say tibido falls to eight Let's say that also For some reason that a guy like Kyle Hamilton or Uh, Derek Stingley Are also there at eight. I don't think that would happen, but this is just me spitballing I would love to know where the Falcons like put their like wish list Of players and because if it's the best player available, it's really hard to discern for those three Who you would put over who because All three are kind of a need for the Falcons and significant needs, especially cornerback and edge rusher so If they're all there, who are you putting over who but that that that's probably definitely not going to happen I'm just kind of throwing that out there because I think it's interesting, but I I personally really like Cave on tibido, even though I know a lot of people are kind of like hot and cold on him And then of course there's a trade on walker. Um, go dogs So I had to throw that one in there. Um, but I think like down prospect As a trade down honestly, I think the uh, the falcons should just like trade down Continuously and just pick up all the Georgia defenders And and that and that be it whenever I make my drafts like for funsies like and publish it. That's what I'm actually gonna do Just find a way to get everybody walker kind Dean you name it All of them. I'm not I'm not you think I'm joking. I'm not joking. I'm going to do that and I'm going to publish it Yeah, I mean for me, I think that I kind of mentioned it earlier from the the draft standpoint and then from free agency I think if you look at the guys who are free agents they're Probably going to be out of price. Um for the falcons. It's like, you know, vod Miller, Chandler Jones, clowny List Randy Gregory. I mean, there's the two guys I kind of looked at were They don't they might not make sense because it's Melvin Ingram Who's I think he's 37 who you could maybe get on on a one-year deal I think a pro football focus projected that he might sign a one-year eight million dollar deal And then there's Jerry Hughes and Melvin Ingram had two sacks the playoffs. He was productive this season There's Jerry Hughes from the bills who he had the 15th highest pff past rush of grade He didn't have the the gaudy kind of second number. I think he had three or two sacks But those are two guys I looked at as far as free agency where the focus could go But I think building through the draft in a particularly deep as draft will probably be the best route Yeah, I also think there's something to be said about what Scott was saying about like trading down I I think like we could probably do a whole podcast on the potential of trading down I think most certainly will there are a lot of these podcasts. There are a lot of off season weeks Um, I was looking at the wide receivers right and we talked some in my earlier spiel about players that could be available there at eight, right and it's one of those things because You go back and forth with it and I'm taking a look at free agency because the problem is they have so many needs at premium positions Guys in for agency that are going to be expensive Quarterbacks expensive edgars expensive right tackles expensive expensive everything has a huge price tag I'm going to go get like an instant established fix And there's only one first round draft pick there Some second rounders. They got to fix that I had some very many people say there's a curse of second rounders in Atlanta too that they need to get fixed as well But nonetheless, I'm taking a look at it and I'm talking about building a Some yak bros. I really think Mike Williams Clemson guy who played for the Chargers for a while he average five yards after the 5.5 yards per reception after the catch big dude powerful guy has some injury history obviously but not really recently But the thing is is just one of those deals where I could say yeah, go get them and his market could Could spin into a stratosphere that the Falcons can't hope to compete with and there's nothing to say that that wouldn't happen people may roll their eyes at me saying That's not possible and that it's pot You know that you just don't know until you look at the volume of what I think is a pretty good crop of Wide receivers, right? I mean who knows who's going to hit the market But you could take a flyer on a guy like will fuller who's been who hasn't played very much a manual sanders to lead A couple of drafted players in here That there are some auctions guys who can be team leaders I've I've been around a manual a little bit, which is why he jumped out at me. I know he's a couple years older at the end of his career But the guy can command a meeting room. I think those things are important So when you look at you know things like that, you think okay, can you go find that type of player? Again, it does hurt to have to say all right. Well That that the kid out of usc looks like a big Tough physical wide receiver. I think there's Five six guys who could be considered first round You know targets or and you can bleed into the second round There's a bunch of really good examples of guys that have been taken in the second rounds especially recently Chase claypool with second round pig. There's a guy from Indianapolis whose name is escaping me, but There's some opportunity there Yeah, I was gonna say like the guy from usc is six five two hundred ten pounds Yeah problem. Yeah, he's yak brown and he doesn't move like that though. He moves like he's not that so he's like Like a he's a guy who like you said that I think that he would fit right in we look think about what AJ Brown does and yards after catch so Yeah, and in the second round too. Like you said, I mean T Higgins was a second round guy He was a second round guy. So yeah, you could you could definitely feel through there Yeah, so we so we just I mean if we're it's tough because it's like we're talking a lot about edge rushes work We're talking about wide receivers We just How do we fix the offense of mine then can we do that in three minutes and 45 seconds? There's no okay I So I know a lot of people are like go after an offensive tackle in the first round and while I don't hate that idea I just I find it really hard to you just You guys should see Tori's like the stress on her face normally you can I have no poker face Tori is like Massaging her temples trying to work out the stress. I'm saying right tackle isn't an issue. It's great I'm not saying the right tackle is an issue right tackle is an issue I'm just saying that you think about it like jake matthews has two years left on his contract and Caleb McGarry is not probably performing at the clip that you want him to So both of those positions are kind of up in the air over the next couple of years and then you have left guard and like I just don't know I don't know how to piece this group together and I don't know I'm glad I don't I'm not paid to do it because I God I'm I'm really stressed out about it um And I don't like what you're talking about too like If you look at the free agency market like offensive linemen are pretty expensive and then like you you need a difference maker now and you like You don't like you have so many other needs too. And I just don't know I don't know where to go first with this offensive line and It's unfair of you to ask this question of me I Especially when they like ticking clock on it Again, I cannot emphasize enough chris and I just watched tourie melton to a puddle of stress. Yeah, she's very stressed You can talk to me about bond receivers and cornerbacks and ed rushers all day long But as soon as you bring up the offensive line, I'm like good for nothing I don't know how to fix it and someone else needs to fix it for me because I can't do it Yeah, I mean I I just have you know, this is sort of just generally speaking Do you want to crack at the best cornerback on the board? Do you want to crack at the fourth best edge rusher? Do you want to crack at the fourth best offensive tackle? Maybe at Number eight Do you want the best at that position that you can find or do you want three other teams leftovers? I don't know. I mean it all depends on the depth of the class and there's a lot going on there But so I guess just real quick as we wrap this thing up at number eight There's a good edge rusher on the board Just like what you were talking about the the the hamilton tibido exercise, right? You just take the best player even if edge rusher is your best need and kyle hamilton is above him on the board You take that guy. You take the Notre Dame kid, right? Yeah, I am Yeah, I feel like that's what we do Yeah, I mean I watched the guy run from the He was on the opposite hash and then he he made it to the other side of the field in like 0.1 seconds So And from right there. I said, all right. I'm taking them taking them. That's I didn't need to say anything That's my pick And and that I think is our great truth, right is that we've identified some major needs I think we can all agree that edge rusher is the biggest one But when it comes down to it, there are so many needs on this team You take the best most talented player that you can find But still having to address that primary need at some point in the draft or in free agency to help you immediately end in the long term