Falcons 2024 NFL Draft: A future Falcon from every team in the Top 10 of the initial 2024 CFP Rankings

Here are the players you should be keeping on eye on during Saturday’s games.

Every year since the CFP was implemented in 2014, the first week of College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings had a bit more meaning to it. It’s a check-in for every team; a signal for how close to the ultimate goal your program is as you traverse the final stretch of the regular season.

With the expansion to 12 teams, the initial rankings aren’t as intense a watch as before, but it does open the door to more optimism amidst the rankings. If there’s a number by your name, all of a sudden the door to a playoff spot is a whole lot wider than in future years…that’s right, we’re looking at you Army.

I decided the best way to celebrate the occasion was to do what every football junkie loves to do on a Saturday morning: Find a potential NFL draft prospect who will allow my favorite team to reach their ultimate goal of hoisting the Lombardi someday.

In this exercise, we comb through and find one Future Falcon from the Top 10 teams ranked in the first CFP rankings. The player was chosen based on a few factors, but there were two factors that reigned supreme: Position of need and realistic chance of acquiring them.

If Colorado comes around, there won’t be any Shedeur Sanders talk, though we love our du-rag-laden protégé. There won’t be too much Ashton Jeanty talk if Boise State’s name comes up (but could you imagine?).

That’s it. Let’s get to it.

1) Oregon – CB Jabbar Muhammad

I re-wrote this at least three separate times as I made the decision between my first prospect and rising Junior defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, but sometimes you have to go with your heart. Speaking of, Muhammad plays with an exceptional amount of heart to make up for his 5’10”, 185-pound frame.

That doesn’t stop him from being one of the more intriguing names in a loaded cornerback class. His frame will have drop out of the first round, but Muhammad’s aggressiveness, fearlessness in coverage and football IQ will make him a player on Atlanta’s radar. Especially if we’re starting to see the twilight of the Dee Alford phenomenon at nickel.

Honorable Mentions: DL Derrick Harmon, WR/RS Tez Johnson

2) Ohio State – EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau

Ohio State continues to churn out bona fide edge rushers and this season is no different. The combination of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau was supposed to be a nightmarish combination for any offense the Buckeyes would face. Tuimoloau currently leads the team with 4.5 sacks and his assortment of pass-rush moves, alongside his strength and motor, would make life for opposing tackles a living hell opposite Bralen Trice in 2025.

Picture a rotation of edge rushers whose sole purpose in life is to wear down tackles with effort and physicality…that’s the Falcons pass rush with Tuimoloau added into it.

Honorable Mention: EDGE Jack Sawyer, WR Emeka Egbuka

3) Georgia – LB Jalon Walker

The run of defense continues as the in-state powerhouse suggests more than just your regular old linebacker, but a defensive weapon. Jalon Walker was an edge defender in 2023, where he played decently, ending the season with five sacks.

This season he’s already got 4.5, including three against the Texas Longhorns in a must-win battle for SEC supremacy. Walker’s versatility in being deployed as a downhill threat, as well as his sideline-to-sideline speed, make him an interesting watch as the season winds down.

Honorable Mentions: EDGE Mykel Williams, LB Smael Mondon, Jr.

4) Miami – OT Jalen Rivers

While we’re not including Cam Ward in this discussion, there is an offensive player to talk about here for Miami: Offensive tackle Jalen Rivers. An offensive lineman that can play at all five positions is worth his weight in gold.

Rivers has experience at all five positions and while he’s not the most fleet-footed, Rivers’ technique usually has him in the right position to wall off defenders.

Honorable Mentions: LB Francisco Mauigoa, WR Xavier Restrepo

5) Texas – CB Jahdae Barron

Slot. Check.

Safety. Check.

Cornerback. Check and check.

Barron can play any and all of the coverage positions in the back end. Like Muhammad though, he will probably find his calling on the inside covering in the slot, but that’s only because of his ability to play downhill.

Honorable Mentions: WR Isaiah Bond, DL Alfred Collins

6) Penn State – EDGE Abdul Carter

I know we said realistic chance of getting them, but could you imagine being able to pull off getting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter in red and black next season?

Carter’s explosiveness off the snap and footwork is enough to make any Falcons fan swoon. He would be unequivocally the best pass rusher in the building as soon as he steps foot into Flowery Branch.

Honorable Mentions: S K.J. Winston, EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton

7) Tennessee – C Cooper Mays

No, you cannot have James Pearce, Jr. on this list; the guy is practically going No. 1 overall. Instead, can I interest you in the musical stylings of, it feels like you’ve been in college for forever, Cooper Mays.

A four-year starter, Mays has been one of the stabilizing forces for Tennessee’s offense under Josh Heupel and he will likely continue that success going into the next level.

Honorable Mentions: EDGE James Pearce, Jr, WR/RS Squirrel White

8) Indiana – EDGE Mikail Kamara

There’s only one answer for the Hoosiers right now, and it’s maybe the biggest riser in the 2025 NFL Draft in Mikail Kamara. Kamara has turned out to be an absolute nightmare for opposing quarterbacks and has helped buoy this defense to be third in the country in yards allowed and seventh in points.

Kamara’s surge has not only brought a new life to this Indiana defense, but could make him some serious money this coming April.

Honorable Mentions: QB Kurtis Rourke, OT Trey Wedig

9) BYU – EDGE Tyler Batty

There has been a lot of edge rushers on this list and we’re not quite done with this the exercise. That’s how futile it has been for Atlanta and how desperate the situation is. However, if you need somebody who will get after the ball carrier, especially in the run game, Batty is your guy.

Oh yeah, he can also do stuff like this with the ball in his hands on special teams.

Honorable Mentions: LB Ben Bywater, LB Jack Kelly

10) Notre Dame – EDGE RJ Oben

Listen, we all want Benjamin Morrison as our CB1, if we’re being honest, in Atlanta, but there’s already going to be a litany of teams in front of Atlanta that need CB help.

So, we turn our attentions back to the front seven with Duke transfer edge rusher RJ Oben. Oben’s calling card is his deep pass-rushing bag and pedigree as his father, Roman Oben, spent 12 years playing as an offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and then-San Diego Chargers.

Honorable Mentions: CB Benjamin Morrison