National Football League

NFL draft: Falcons bolster pass rush with Beasley at No. 8

Published Apr. 30, 2015 9:18 p.m. ET

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Falcons took a major step on Thursday to improve one of the weakest areas of their defense.

With the eighth-overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, Atlanta chose former Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley. He'll instantly step in and provide an attack-the-quarterback style that has been sorely missed for years.

Beasley was the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 after posting 12 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. During his senior season he became Clemson's all-time sack leader, breaking Michael Dean Perry's three-decade-old record (27 sacks).

The Falcons finished 30th in the NFL last season with just 22 sacks. Only one team (Cincinnati) posted fewer. Atlanta worked during the offseason to improve its linebacker corps with free-agent additions Justin Durant and Brooks Reed, and added defensive end Adrian Clayborn. But Beasley will be expected to be the crown jewel of the teams pass rush.

What general manager Thomas Dimitroff mentioned first when talking about the Falcons' first-round pick were two traits: Athleticism and ability to get around the corner of the offensive line and attack a quarterback. New head coach Dan Quinn added straight-line speed.

"The speed and the athleticism to get after the quarterback coming off the edge," said Quinn. "Those are the things that most fire us up."

The Falcons were also extremely impressed with Beasley off the field. The team had multiple meetings with him, both in Clemson at the Falcons' training facility in Flowery Branch, and came away stunned with his character.

"When you talk to a guy off the field and you have your world squared away, you know it right away," said Quinn. "That was one of the things that initially impressed Thomas and myself when we had a chance to visit with him."

But it's his pass-rush skills that will benefit the Falcons.

Quinn called Beasley's best attribute his first-step quickness. The Falcons were impressed with how fast Beasley got into attack mode and then how fast he was at getting around the edge set by the offensive line and to the quarterback.

Beasley said he expected to be picked before the Falcons selected at No. 8. But he was ecstatic to land with the team he grew up loving as a fan. While he didn't exactly know who he'd play for, not that he's with Atlanta, and head coach Dan Quinn, he knows what's expected of him.

"Coach Quinn did a great job coaching up there in Seattle and he used Bruce Irvin very well in the LEO position," said Beasley on a video conference call from Chicago. " I think he plans to do the same with me."

The LEO is typically a team's best pass rusher and will line up outside the offensive tackle on the quarterback's blind side. From there Beasley will attack.

"I'm a double-digit sack guy," said Beasley confidently. "I'm going to bring a great pass rush and put a lot of pressure on the quarterback."

When asked if he meant what he said; would he reach double digits in sacks? Beasley replied "Most definitely."

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