Not every second-round draft pick finds immediate success in the NFL. That plain fact often obscures a player’s initial evaluation in our society of instant gratification and immediate validation. Some are drafted with an eye for the future more than heavy usage in the present.
That’s the basis for our series focusing on the 2024 second-rounders who didn’t get a chance to do a lot as rookies, for a variety of reasons. So far, we’ve covered:
Cowboys EDGE Marshawn Kneeland
Cardinals CB Max Melton
Chiefs OL Kingsley Suamataia
Lions CB Ennis Rakestraw
Next up is Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro, the No. 35 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Orhorhoro didn’t see a lot of action in his rookie campaign, despite Atlanta trading No. 43 (which the Cardinals used on Max Melton) and No. 79 in exchange for 35 and 186 overall.
The 6-foot-4, 294-pound DT was inactive for Atlanta’s first four games, then saw limited reserve action for four games before an ankle injury sent him to injured reserve. Orhorhoro returned for the Falcons’ final four weeks and played just over 30 percent of the snaps down the stretch, primarily playing as a 3-tech but also mixing in some reps more to the outside of the line.
Atlanta’s finale against Carolina flashed a glimpse of what Orhorhoro can do on the defensive line. He played more as a 4i/5T (aligned over/outside the OT) and used his long arms effectively to foil blocks. Orhorhoro finished with three of his 11 tackles on the season in that matchup.
The Falcons no longer have venerable Grady Jarrett on the interior. Orhorhoro is a very different type of athlete, a tall and long-armed power-to-speed presence. Atlanta is expected to run more of a “multiple” front, which would allow Orhorhoro to move between the 3T and 5T roles based on the best matchup. It’s not reasonable to expect him to replace Jarrett’s quick-hit pass rushing style, but Orhorhoro can win in different ways.
The run defense figures to be the key for his playing time, ironically enough. Atlanta used its first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on EDGEs Jalon Walker and James Pearce. Unlike the necessity of Jarrett creating a pass rush from the interior, the Falcons figure to need Orhorhoro to be more of a complement to the outside rush while also being stout against the run. He demonstrated that potential at Clemson with his blend of first-step quickness and powerful length.
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