FLOWERY BRANCH -- All nine of the Falcons’ 2021 draft picks made the initial 53-man roster, but that doesn’t guarantee them a spot on the opening roster.
“We feel good about all of those guys,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said Thursday. “Right now, they all are on the 53. It doesn’t mean they are on scholarship. If we felt they didn’t deserve to be on the 53, they wouldn’t be on the 53.”
Also, two undrafted rookies -- quarterback Feleipe Franks and linebacker Dorian Etheridge -- made the initial cut.
“You have a lot of flexibility in the roster because it’s not final, it’s still fluid,” Smith said. “I’d imagine there are a couple more moves that we could make over the next couple of days. I can’t guarantee anything.”
Several of the rookies, as expected, struggled in exhibition games.
Tight end Kyle Pitts, the player taken fourth overall in the draft, played only two snaps and had a nice catch-and-run for a 27-yard gain. Outside linebacker Ade Ogundeji, a fifth-round pick, played well and had a half of a sack.
Third-round pick Jalen Mayfield and fourth-round pick Drew Dalman, both offensive linemen, played more than 120 offensive snaps.
“There is no mandate to say if we drafted somebody they have to be on your 53 and they are on scholarship,” Smith said. “One of the unintended consequences would be that you’d miss out on a guy who could ended up helping you win.”
The Falcons plan to keep developing their rookie class. Only Pitts and Mayfield are working with the first-team unit. The Falcons have elected to keep developing them, including second-round pick Richie Grant, a safety.
“There is fine line between (missing out on a contributor) and making sure that you’re not giving up on somebody too early,” Smith said.
Cornerback Darren Hall, a fourth-round pick, and wide receiver Frank Darby (sixth round) appeared to be on the bubble, but made the roster. Smith didn’t address Hall, but spoke highly of Darby.
“He’s taken the most reps of any receiver in training camp,” Smith said. “Sometimes in the games, he got a lot of work on special teams, and that’s a big part of his development. We anticipate that he will help us. I don’t know if it will be Week 1, but at some point. If Frank continues on the path that he’s on, we feel like he’ll help us at some point in this season.”
Here’s the Falcons 2021 rookie class:
First round (4th overall ) -- Kyle Pitts, TE/WR, Florida
Second round (40th overall) – Richie Grant, S, Central Florida
Third round (68th overall) – Jalen Mayfield, G, Michigan
Fourth round (108th overall) – Darren Hall, CB, San Diego State
Fourth round (114th overall) – Drew Dalman, C, Stanford
Fifth round (148th overall) – Ta’Quon Graham, DE, Texas
Fifth round (182nd overall) – Adetokunbo Ogundeji, DE, Notre Dame
Fifth round (183th overall) – Avery Williams, CB, Boise State
Sixth round (187th overall) – Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State
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