ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons addressed a glaring need by selecting safety Richie Grant of Central Florida at No.
40 overall in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night. The cost-cutting Falcons lost veteran safeties Ricardo Allen, Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee in free agency.
The team added two possible 2021 starters by signing Erik Harris and Duron Harmon but needed to add long-term help in the draft.
Grant (6-0, 197) had 10 career interceptions and was a Thorpe Award finalist as one of the nation's top defensive backs in 2020.