The Falcons essentially are starting from scratch after dealing quarterback Matt Ryan to the Colts. While they won’t use the word “rebuild,” about everybody else will. This isn’t a team that’s likely competing for anything besides draft positioning in 2022.
That puts all options on the table in the NFL draft. The Falcons naturally are linked to quarterbacks – Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett and Liberty’s Malik Willis are the top two names – but perhaps the team doesn’t see them worthy of the No. 8 overall choice. This has long been considered a weaker quarterback class, but desperation at the sport’s most important position will result in multiple first-round signal-callers.
It’s dangerous to play the “wait until next year” game, but the next quarterback crop is supposed to be deeper. It potentially includes Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and even Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke, among others who could break out. The Falcons taking a step back in 2022 could lead them to a massive step forward by acquiring a premier quarterback prospect next spring.
That takes the conversation back to this April. The Falcons need to upgrade the trenches, but their receiver situation is likewise dire. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper had them taking Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson in his latest mock draft. Wilson was the second receiver selected behind USC’s Drake London, whom he had landing with the Jets at No. 4 overall.
“Garrett Wilson is a guy who’s an excellent route runner,” Kiper said on a conference call last month. “He gets easy separation. He catches with his hands. He can catch with his body. So he varies that when he needs to. He gets yards after the catch. He runs the route tree. He does all that. He ran well. Tested well. I think he’s done everything possible from production to workouts to be a top-10 pick. That’s why I’ve been going to Atlanta at eight.”
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah also paired Wilson with the Falcons in his most recent mock draft. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter had the Falcons selecting Wilson in his latest mock draft. ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller, recently answering a fan’s mailbag question, said the Falcons taking a receiver at No. 8 “makes the most sense and is the hottest rumor.”
It’s clear drafting a receiver is in consideration (the Falcons have showed consistent interest in pass catchers throughout the pre-draft process). There doesn’t seem to be a consensus top receiver, however, as LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase was in 2021. Wilson is among the better options along with London, a towering jump-ball threat, Treylon Burks, Arkansas’ playmaker, and Ohio State’s Chris Olave, a seasoned inside-outside threat. How one ranks those players is a matter of taste.
Another notable receiver is Alabama’s Jameson Williams, who is recovering from a torn ACL but possesses game-breaking speed. He could still go in the first round. There’s a fair chance Williams would’ve been the first receiver off the board if he wasn’t injured during the national championship game against Georgia in January.
There’s also North Dakota State’s Christian Watson, who is raw but has tantalizing traits. Georgia’s George Pickens, another physical specimen, has an outside shot at sneaking into the first round. Jahan Dotson (Penn State), Skyy Moore (Western Michigan), John Metchie (Alabama), David Bell (Purdue), Jalen Tolbert (South Alabama) and Alec Pierce (Cincinnati) also headline the stacked receiver group.
Why then would the Falcons invest their highest pick in a receiver when the class is loaded with them? The justification would be they fell in love with one of the wideouts and saw him as an offensive cornerstone with tight end Kyle Pitts. Value-wise, it doesn’t seem likely a receiver would be the best player available at No. 8 (though team boards vary). The NFL draft isn’t just about picking players; it’s a value exercise.
The Falcons could nab an edge rusher at No. 8, for instance, and acquire a player such as Moore, Bell or Tolbert on Day 2. The Falcons have two second-rounders and two third-rounders, areas ripe for acquiring receivers. Their first-rounder could go toward the defensive help they desperately need. Impact receivers are found later in the draft every year.
Or the team could trade down in the first round and select a receiver in the teens or even the 20s. Trading down should be especially appealing to the Falcons, whether it’s for more 2022 picks or to add ammunition for the 2023 draft, which could aid the team’s quest for a quarterback. Trading down is always easier said than done, though.
If the Falcons pass on a quarterback this month, their focus will be creating a situation optimal for their future quarterback’s success. Then, when the next signal-caller arrives, he’s better positioned to succeed (think about the difference between Ryan’s earlier days as a Falcon versus his final years). Drafting a receiver early fits that thought process. Coach Arthur Smith is still in the early stages of building his offense.
The Falcons’ receiver situation ranks among the worst in the NFL. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage are gone. The team instead has a group of unproven players and journeymen. It started filling the depth chart by signing Auden Tate, KhaDarel Hodge and Damiere Byrd, but those players haven’t proved to be more than depth. New quarterback Marcus Mariota, in probably his last chance to prove he’s a starter, doesn’t have much at his disposal.
In today’s offensively focused NFL, assembling a strong supporting cast is paramount. Given the Falcons’ talent-deprived roster, it’d be a logical route to build the foundation before taking a quarterback. Whether it’s a receiver, an edge rusher or an offensive lineman, the Falcons just need to increase their base talent. They have the resources to do just that, setting themselves up nicely for next offseason when they’ll have a clean cap sheet and, ideally, a bit more clarity with the roster.
About the Author
