Falcons snag Ebiketie after leaping up to No. 38

The Atlanta Falcons selected Penn State pass-rusher Arnold Ebiketie in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft after trading up to No. 38 overall.

The New York Giants traded No. 38 to the Falcons for Nos. 43 and 114.

The Falcons needed to upgrade their pass-rushing group this offseason after finishing last in sacks with 18 in 2021, 11 fewer than the 31st-ranked club.

Ebiketie earned a first-team All-Big Ten honor last season after racking up 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. He'll join a unit headlined by Lorenzo Carter and Adetokunbo Ogundeji.

Scouting profile: Arnold Ebiketie

When it comes to Ebiketie, the simple question is whether an NFL coaching staff can extract his complete potential. While he's a raw player, all the ingredients are there. With his size and 34-inch arms, he's a feisty pit bull who uses his active hands to fight until the final bell. He's got speed off the line - though he can sometimes struggle to time the snap - and can fight his way to the quarterback with a swipe move. Although he lacks the strength to see the field against the run and is vulnerable to getting moved off his mark, the arrow is only pointed up after his 9.5-sack campaign with Penn State following his transfer from Temple.