This years pass rushers come in all sorts of different varieties, so lets take a deeper look at those who could still be on the clock at No. 15.

Will McFadden

Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of theAtlantaFalcons.comeditorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. In her most recent mock draft, Tori McElhaney presented a scenario that involved the Atlanta Falcons not taking an edge rusher with the No. 15 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Instead,she added a quality player to Atlantas secondary, turning that unit into a bona-fide strength. It's a decision that is entirely justifiable, but one that left plenty of fans responding with a familiar refrain What about the pass rush?

Those fans will hopefully be relieved to learn that mock drafts are as much about presenting hypothetically scenarios than actually predicting what might happen. Could the Falcons select one of the many talented cornerbacks or safeties in the first round? Sure. However, they are just as likely to go a number of directions at this point.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot was hailed as a breath of fresh air when he first stated his preference for drafting the players they feel are the best rather than limiting their draft board to positional needs. Now, some of those same people believe Atlanta should narrow its aperture to focus on only a few key positions of need.

For those who want Atlanta to take a pass rusher in the first round for the first time since 2017, I have good news: This draft sets up remarkably well for the Falcons to find a pass rusher that meshes with their defensive approach.

While I am not privy to any information that might hint at who that could be, an understanding of this year's class is all it takes to make that claim. This year's pass rushers come in all sorts of different flavors, so let's take a deeper look at those who could still be on the clock at No. 15.

Editor's note: Penn State's Abdul Carter is largely expected to be a top-5 pick in the draft, so he is not included in this exercise but is an exceptional player.

Jalon Walker, Edge, UGA

Scouts inc.: No. 2 Edge (No. 6 overall)

Pro Football Focus: No. 2 LB (No. 28 overall)

Daniel Jeremiah: No. 2 Edge (No. 7 overall)

The Georgia off-ball linebacker is 6-foot-2, 245 pounds and has the versatility to impact the game in multiple ways. Those are all qualities that should make Walker an attractive player to Atlanta. The Falcons were among the most effective teams in the NFL last season at getting pass rush productivity from a true linebacker position. Kaden Elliss was the only player in the league with more than 130 tackles and four sacks, finishing the year with 151 tackles and five sacks. Walker's talents are even more suited to rushing the passer, and he'd be in a creative defense that should lean on the skills that make him unique.

Mykel Williams, Edge, UGA

Scouts inc.: No. 3 Edge (No. 13 overall)

Pro Football Focus: No. 5 Edge (No. 26 overall)

Daniel Jeremiah: No. 3 Edge (No. 20 overall)

Another Bulldog who looks impressive coming off the bus, Williams is a bit of a wild card in this year's draft because of an ankle injury that limited him throughout the 2024 season. That makes Williams even more of a projection than others, but the upside is undeniable. He has the length teams will covet, can set a hard edge in the run game and has multiple ways to win as a pass rusher. He's in the mold of a traditional defensive end more than Walker is, but that could be exactly what Atlanta is looking for.

Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

Scouts inc.: No. 4 Edge (No. 19 overall)

Pro Football Focus: No. 6 Edge (No. 27 overall)

Daniel Jeremiah: No. 6 Edge (No. 27 overall)

When it comes to the combination of physical build and athleticism, Stewart is tops in this class. The 6-foot-5, 267-pound edge defender is long and strong, and he scored aperfect 10 relative athletic scorefor his NFL Combine performance. The issue, however, lies in Stewart's college production, or lack thereof. He had just 4.5 sacks in three seasons at Texas A&M, making him the ultimate litmus test for the production-vs-potential philosophies.

Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

Scouts inc.: No. 5 Edge (No. 21 overall)

Pro Football Focus: No. 2 Edge (No. 12 overall)

Daniel Jeremiah: No. 4 Edge (No. 21 overall)

Green has a high approval rating among the draft community thanks to his violent explosiveness and impressive college production. There will be questions about the level of competition Green faced at Marshall, but he dominated that competition and finished with 17 sacks to lead all FBS players last season. In his quiver, Green has an outside speed rush, a speed-to-power bull rush, a reliable dip/rip and a developing spin move. He looks like a playerready to go right out of the box.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

Scouts inc.: No. 6 Edge (No. 26 overall)

Pro Football Focus: No. 4 Edge (No. 16 overall)

Daniel Jeremiah: No. 7 Edge (No. 30 overall)

Ezeiruaku finished just a half-sack behind Green last season with 16.5 quarterback takedowns during a dominant breakout senior year. At 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds, he's another player with a good frame for the next level. Among this year's prospects, Ezeiruaku has an advanced set of pass rush moves, and his long arms help him corral the quarterback consistently. On tape, Ezeiruaku shows the ability to drop in coverage, which would be beneficial in simulated pressure looks.

James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee

Scouts inc.: No. 7 Edge (No. 27 overall)

Pro Football Focus: No. 3 Edge (No. 15 overall)

Daniel Jeremiah: No. 5 Edge (No. 22 overall)

Pearce is one of the most unique pass rushers in this class. At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, the former Vol has a narrow and agile frame, but his explosiveness makes up for that. Pearce is lightning-quick off the line of scrimmage before deploying an array of stutter moves that would make a wide receiver proud. He's also got more power as a pass rusher than his build might indicate. With 17.5 sacks the last two seasons for Tennessee, Pearce has production teams are looking for. As a pure pass rusher, he offers a lot of upside.

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