Falcons coach Arthur Smith noted that team has eight other picks in the draft, which is set for Thursday through Saturday in Cleveland.
“It’s not just about the fourth pick or any scenario that we move back,” Smith said on Wednesday. “It’s about all of the players we are bringing in here.”
The Falcons will also sign undrafted players after the draft and will be a popular destination with so many open roster spots. The Falcons currently have 56 players under contract and can go up to 90.
“That’s the heart of your team,” Smith said. “A lot of attention gets put on the first pick. I get it. It drives ratings. It drives clicks. It’s exciting, but the reality is that we are going to bring nine-plus football players in here for the first time to be a part of this culture in Year One.”
The Falcons have nine picks in the draft, which will be held Thursday through Sunday in Cleveland.
The draft starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday. The second day (rounds 2 and 3) will start at 7 p.m. on Friday. The third day (rounds 4 through 7) will start at 12 noon on Saturday.
Here’s our full mock draft with the Falcons taking the best player available:
Falcons Picks
Round 1 | Pick 4 (4 overall) -- Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State: Team takes the QB of the future.
Round 2 | Pick 3 (35 overall) -- Creed Humphrey, C/G, Oklahoma: The get a big nasty to help on the interior. He and Matt Hennessy can battled it out for center. Loser has to battle Matt Gono for left guard.
Round 3 | Pick 4 (68 overall) – Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis: Dynamic multi-purpose back. (We really want Javonte Williams from North Carolina, but he’s gone and this is too high for Ohio State Trey Sermon of Sprayberry High).
Round 4 | Pick 3 (108 overall) –Tre Brown, CB, Oklahoma: Tough cornerback who projects to the slot. Great man-to-man press skills at 5-10. If he was taller, he’d be a first-rounder. Great tackler in space.
Round 5 | Pick 4 (148 overall) – Richard LeCounte, S, Georgia: Big-hitter who will get his shot to make it in the league after a scary wreck. If he’s not here, snap up Florida State safety Hamsah Nasirildeen, who had a 32-inch vertical and bench-pressed 225 pounds 17 times at his Pro Day, is another intriguing safety prospect .
Round 5 | Pick 38* (182 overall) – Walker Little, OT, Stanford: Since it looks like the Falcons have plans to move Gono inside, they need a swing tackle to backup Jake Matthews and Caleb McGary.
Round 5 | Pick 39* (183 overall) – Cam Sample, DE, Tulane: The Falcons are blowing smoke around the “multiple” defense. But they are making 3-4 moves and need some bigger defensive ends. The Shiloh High grade fits the new scheme.
Round 6 | Pick 3 (187 overall) -- James Wiggins, S, Cincinnati: Another big hitter, who’s 6-0 and 205 and can drop down and play the run.
Round 6 | Pick 35* (219 overall) – Darius Royster, DE, North Carolina Central: Taking a flyer here on the MEAC defensive player of the year, who has flashed some pass rush ability. Maybe he’s the next Robert Mathis from an HBCU. If he makes it, you hit big. If not, was a sixth round comp pick. Here’s a look at the rest of the HBCU prospects from Donald Hunt writing for The Undefeated.
* - Denotes a compensatory pick.
AJC’S POSITION-BY-POSITION NFL DRAFT SERIES
QUARTERBACKS: How far will Justin Fields drop in draft? | Top 10 QBs
RUNNING BACKS: Plenty of prospects to pick from | Top 10 RBs
WIDE RECEIVERS: Draft deep with talent | Top 10 WRs
TIGHT ENDS: Ability to create mismatches is key | Top 10 TEs
OFFENSIVE TACKLES: A ‘nasty’ bunch | Top 10 OTs
OFFENSIVE GUARDS/CENTERS: The men in the middle | Top 10 C/OGs
END RUSHERS: Pass on this draft stock | Top 10 DEs
DEFENSIVE TACKLES: One star among lackluster block | Top 10 DTs
LINEBACKERS: Deep class for position | Top 10 LBs
CORNERBACKS: Plethora of options for first two rounds | Top 10 CBs
SAFETIES: Falcons likely will add position player | Top 10 Safeties
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