NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah believes this could finally be the year the Atlanta Falcons use their first-round pick on a pass rusher. They might not even have to look beyond their home state to find one.
In his latest mock draft, Jeremiah projects the Falcons to select Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher Mykel Williams at No. 15 overall.
“One of these years, I’m going to be right, and the Falcons will take a pass rusher in the first round,” Jeremiah wrote.
Williams, who played three seasons for Georgia from 2022-24, attended Hardaway High School in Columbus, Ga., located about two hours south of Atlanta.
On January 28, Daniel Jeremiah ranked Mykel Williams as the No. 16 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft and the third-best edge rusher on his big board.
“Williams is a talented edge rusher with rare physical traits. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in the opening game against Clemson and played through pain for the remainder of the season,” Jeremiah wrote. “Overall, the 2024 tape isn’t a fair representation of Williams’ talent.
“He has game-changing tools when healthy and locked in.”
Williams recorded five sacks, nine tackles for loss, two pass defenses, and two forced fumbles last season, along with 21 total tackles. Over his three seasons at Georgia, he amassed 14 sacks in 40 games.
If the Falcons were to draft Williams, he would be their first first-round edge rusher since 2017. Additionally, he would make history as the first Georgia player ever selected by Atlanta in the first round.
