PFF latest mock draft has Falcons selecting record-breaking WR in second round

As Atlanta Falcons fans eagerly await the announcement of a new defensive coordinator following Jimmy Lake’s firing, the offseason buzz is shifting toward the 2025 NFL Draft. Missing the playoffs for a seventh consecutive year has Falcons faithful looking ahead, once again, to the promise of the future.

Between now and April’s draft, fans will pore over countless mock drafts hoping their team lands the perfect picks. In one of Pro Football Focus's latest mock drafts, Atlanta’s first two selections address key needs on both sides of the ball.

At No. 15 overall in the first round, PFF projects the Falcons to select Texas A&M edge rusher Nic Scourton, earning an A+ draft grade. Adding Scourton would address a long-standing need for a dominant pass rusher, a position Atlanta hasn’t drafted in the first round since Vic Beasley in 2015. Scourton has been a force in college football, showcasing the ability to disrupt opposing offenses consistently.

In the second round, PFF has the Falcons picking Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, who earned a B+ grade. Restrepo, a reliable WR1 for the Hurricanes, led the ACC in receiving with 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season. He also broke Miami legend Santana Moss's career receiving record with 2,844 yards, becoming a standout target for projected first-round quarterback Cam Ward.

With two of Atlanta’s wide receivers, Rondale Moore and KhaDarel Hodge, set to hit free agency, adding Restrepo alongside Drake London and Darnell Mooney could bolster the offense significantly. For second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who is set to take over as the full-time starter, a dependable receiving corps will be crucial in his development.

For now, the draft offers hope for the Falcons as they attempt to rebuild and finally break their playoff drought.