2020 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Combine mock with Redskins trading down

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 07: Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after stopping the Baylor Bears offense in the first quarter of the Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 07: Kenneth Murray #9 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates after stopping the Baylor Bears offense in the first quarter of the Big 12 Football Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 7, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 28: Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson #18 of the LSU Tigers looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 28: Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson #18 of the LSU Tigers looks on from the sidelines during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

. Edge Rusher. Atlanta Falcons. K'Lavon Chaisson. 16. player. 44

The Falcons were one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. Despite having a pretty loaded offense and a solid-looking defense, they got off to an awful start and only caught fire in the second half of the season. That doomed them in a strong NFC, but the late-season push was enough to save Dan Quinn’s job for another year.

If Quinn wants to avoid his seat catching fire early in the season, he is going to have to add some more talent to the team’s defense. The team has some concerns in the secondary and at linebacker with De’Vondre Campbell hitting free agency, but their biggest weakness probably would be the edge rush.

Vic Beasley has regressed considerably since being a first-team All-Pro back in 2016. He had an NFL-best 15.5 sacks that season but since then, he has just 18 sacks in three seasons. With Beasley set to hit free agency, it may be time for Atlanta to move on and find someone to play across from Takk McKinley, who had a career-worst 3.5 sacks last season.

K’Lavon Chaisson is a player that is rapidly moving up boards. He has excellent athletic ability and a 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame that should afford him the opportunity to win on the edge at the NFL level. He is still developing, but his size and athleticism should be on display at the NFL Combine. And if he performs well, that will give him a chance to continue climbing draft boards.

For now, no player makes more sense for Atlanta than Chaisson. He fills their biggest need and is one of the best players available. They’ll certainly hope that he makes it to this slot on draft day.