Latest news with #RukeOrhorhoro
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arnold Ebiketie, Brandon Dorlus earn Falcons' highest grades vs. Lions
The Atlanta Falcons' preseason opener was suspended following an injury to Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris, but there was a lot to be learned in the three quarters of football that we did see on Friday night. The Falcons played all of their rookies, and the early results were promising. James Pearce Jr. and Ruke Orhorhoro tied for the team lead in pressures with three apiece. Pearce led Atlanta's five-player draft class with a Pro Football Focus grade of 75.1, while former second-round pick Arnold Ebiketie led all players with a grade of 94.6. Second-year defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus earned the second-highest grade in Friday's opener with an impressive 92.2. Wide receiver Chris Blair was the highest-graded offensive player (91.3 overall), while linebacker Josh Woods was the fourth player with an elite PFF grade (91.4). Check out the 10 highest-graded Falcons players from their preseason matchup against Detroit. Plus, the team's rookie grades can be found below. PFF grades: Ebiketie, Dorlus earn top marks DE Arnold Ebiketie: 94.6 DL Brandon Dorlus: 92.2 WR Chris Blair: 91.3 LB Josh Woods: 91.2 WR Nick Nash: 82.1 OL Kyle Hinton: 80.5 DE Khalid Kareem: 76.1 QB Easton Stick: 75.4 DE James Pearce Jr.: 75.1 DL Ta'Quon Graham: 73.6 OL Elijah Wilkinson: 71.8 WR Dylan Drummond: 70.6 Falcons rookie class grades vs. Lions James Pearce Jr.: 75.1 Jalon Walker: 66.9 Billy Bowman: 59.7 (ST grade: 91.5) Xavier Watts: 57.3 Jack Nelson: 59.3 This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: PFF grades from preseason game vs. Lions
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons defensive lineman named Comeback Player of the Year candidate
NFL analyst predicts bounce-back season for Falcons defensive lineman in 2025 Over the last decade or so, the Atlanta Falcons have had no trouble identifying and drafting elite offensive talent, but they haven't had that same level of success on defense. The team was determined to change that during the 2025 NFL offseason. After using a first-round pick on Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker, Atlanta traded away a future first-round pick to go up and draft Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. Both rookies will be expected to help fix the team's pass-rush woes in 2025. The Falcons made a similar move during the 2024 NFL draft, trading away a future third-round pick to move up to pick No. 35 for defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro. The former Clemson standout appeared in just eight games as a rookie, recording 11 tackles (four solo) and one QB hit. Orhorhoro should get every chance to start for the team's new-look defense under Jeff Ulbrich. In fact, Pro Football Sports Network listed the second-year defensive lineman as a potential Comeback Player of the Year candidate in 2025: Kirk Cousins could be a sneaky Comeback Player of the Year candidate if Michael Penix Jr. were to go down with an injury. Other than him, though, the Atlanta Falcons don't have a realistic Comeback Player of the Year option. Ruke Orhorhoro could be a bounce-back player to watch, however. He played in just eight games as a second-round rookie last year, only tallying 11 tackles with no sacks. He's an athletic defensive tackle who projects as a backup for Atlanta this year, but he showed plenty of NFL starter upside during his time at Clemson. -- Jacob Infante, PFSN While Orhorhoro has been a non-factor on defense thus far, there's reason to believe that could change in 2025. The Falcons released defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, the former face of their defense, over the offseason. Jarrett spent a decade in Atlanta, and his absence will surely be felt this season. However, one has to wonder how Orhorhoro would win the Comeback Player of the Year award when he has yet to establish himself in the first place. The award tends to go to established players who are returning from injury. For example, Cousins would have been a lock for the award in 2024 if his play had not fallen off late in the year. Regardless of whether or not Orhorhoro qualifies for awards at the end of the season, the Falcons will need their former second-round pick to produce if they're going to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Make sure to check out our latest Falcons 53-man roster projection for the 2025 NFL season!
