College football kicked off this Friday, but if you’re an Atlanta Falcons fan, the real story isn’t on the practice field in Georgia. Yeah, the team wrapped up camp against the Miami Dolphins, but forget that matchup for a second. You should have been glued to the screen in Dublin, Ireland. That’s where Markis Deal was playing, and honestly, he might be the missing piece for our defensive line. Per The Falcoholic, there’s a gaping hole behind LaCale London that nobody’s talking about. Deal’s the fix everyone’s sleeping on.
The Size And The Sack
Here’s the thing about Deal’s physical profile: it’s exactly what we need for the next decade. He’s 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, and that bulk makes him a nightmare in the run game. I’ve watched the tape from last season, and he knows how to shed his pad surface to get to the quarterback. Remember that sack against Namdi Obiazor in the backfield while he was at TCU? Classic.
While the report points out that Da’Shawn Hand and Chris Williams have shown some promise, it’s not enough. The depth chart is paper-thin right now, and the future looks shaky if we don’t add new talent. Sure, the Falcons might find a gem in undrafted free agent Carlos Allen Jr., but that’s a pure gamble. Deal offers a safer bet, provided he can unlock some serious pass-rush juice this season. He’s starting against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Week Zero. If he performs well, he could jump from a late pick to a top-100 prospect overnight.
A Two-Down Lineman With Upside
Every team is hunting for a defensive tackle who can stuff the run and rush the passer. Deal fits that mold perfectly, but he’s gotta prove he can get to the QB consistently. He could play his way into early day-three draft status. He might even crack some top-100 lists as a potential two- to three-down lineman. That’s a massive upgrade over what we’re currently stuck with.
Bill Belichick is now coaching at North Carolina, which adds a whole new layer of drama to the matchup. The Tar Heels are playing in Dublin, so scouts will be absolutely everywhere. This is the perfect stage for Deal to show he belongs in the NFL. He doesn’t need to be perfect; he just needs to be better than what Atlanta has right now. The Falcons need to start watching college football again.
Maason Smith had a solid training camp. But the defensive line as a whole? Still worrying.
