With new head coach Dan Quinn in town, it’s expected that he will usher in a new era for the Atlanta Falcons. As a keen defensive mind, Quinn will no doubt be an instrumental part in ensuring that the Falcons actually bring the defensive heat to opposing teams come next season. The philosophy in my opinion to really have a team shooting for perennial success is to build through the draft. That’s why it’s important, for the Falcons to add more talent to their pass rushing skills, to draft someone like defensive end Randy Gregory.

Gregory is truly a beast of a defender. In my mock draft, there is no doubt in my mind that if he’s available for the taking, the Falcons will absolutely draft him with their No. 8 overall first-round pick. At 6’5″ and 235 pounds, he brings aggression and fierceness to any defense he is a part of.

With his speed and consistency to always give it his all on each and every down he is a part of, Gregory would fit in nicely to what the Falcons need on defense. With the right guidance and coaching, especially from Quinn, Gregory could end up being the best pass rusher out of this year’s draft.

Considering the Falcons only had 22.0 sacks last season, he could step right in and give them that much needed defensive presence to get to the quarterback. Gregory could be a force to reckon with and would be essential in turning things around for the Falcons come next season and beyond.

Another area that Gregory excels in is stopping the run. Last season, the Falcons allowed 118.4 rushing yards per game that landed them 21st overall in the NFL. Gregory would help address that issue as well since he hits well and knows how to spot the ball carrier quickly.

Gregory could also be a good option at linebacker to really utilize his blitzing abilities. He’s versatile and able to fill either role nicely which makes this an even more attractive pick for the Falcons to consider once they are on the clock.

Besides what Gregory brings to the field, I especially love what he brings to the table as far as leadership is concerned. Too many times players are overlooked when it comes to this important trait since he has the tendency to be a solid locker room presence.

Nov 15, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive end Randy Gregory (4) during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 59-24. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Carasik of the Bleacher Report recently wrote a great article about how he is pretty much a clone of former Falcons’ defensive end John Abraham. I remember the intensity that Abraham brought when he was a member of the New York Jets and what he did for the most part with the Falcons.

If Gregory can live up to bring the kind of impact and speed off the edge that Abraham brought to the Falcons for years, the Falcons would be wise to head in this direction. He’s the kind of player that could really develop over the next few years as the next big thing for the Falcons on defense.

Overall, they absolutely need to bolster their pass rush if they expect to be competitive come next season. Winners and losers are ultimately defined by how well their draft goes and if the Falcons want to stay on top, they should definitely consider what Gregory would bring to their team and how his development could yield incredible results for years to come.