The Michael Penix selection yesterday came with significant risks, which I think are well understood at this point. One of those risks was that selecting Penix would make it more difficult for the Falcons to land high-end defensive talent, and that is talent they sorely need.
The Falcons clearly tried to have it both ways. Per NFL insider Steve Wyche, who still has ties to the organization from his Atlanta Journal-Constitution days, the Falcons tried to trade back into the first round with an eye on grabbing Laiatu Latu, one of the best EDGE defenders in this class.