This year’s draft is almost certain to begin with Trevor Lawrence going to the Jaguars and Zach Wilson to the Jets, making the 49ers’ No. 3 overall pick the beginning of what promises to be a drama-filled top 10. Just behind San Francisco, however, a team faces a more complicated decision.
Picking in the top five for the first time in 13 years, the Falcons hold the No. 4 overall selection. They have a few intriguing options; each would represent drastically different paths for the franchise. After previously not being on the same page about the pick, new GM Terry Fontenot and new HC Arthur Smith are believed to be in agreement now. Which way should the franchise go?
Fontenot was believed to be leaning toward acquiring Matt Ryan‘s heir apparent. There are reasons to support this route. Ryan will turn 36 this year, has not made a Pro Bowl — in the easiest era for such an honor — since his MVP 2016 season, and the Falcons have a rare opportunity to draft one of this year’s prized QB prospects. While late-blooming prospects will likely emerge, the 2022 quarterback class is not currently rated highly. Drafting Trey Lance, Mac Jones or Georgia native Justin Fields — two will be available — would give the Falcons a player around whom the new regime could build. The Falcons proceeding in this direction would make this the first time a draft has started with four quarterbacks being chosen.
[RELATED: Who Will 49ers Draft At No. 3?]
When the duo was believed to be split, Smith was viewed as being in favor of selecting a player who could help a still-Ryan-centric team. With Ryan still an above-average quarterback, and the Falcons possessing needs elsewhere, a case certainly exists for the team to stay the course with its veteran passer. The Falcons having restructured Ryan’s contract earlier this year also would limit their benefit from a rookie-QB salary in 2022. The Jaguars and Jets have no veteran quarterback contract of note on their books, and the 49ers can part ways with Jimmy Garoppolo without much of a dead-cap hit. The Falcons have more than $40MM in Ryan signing bonus money prorated beyond 2021.
With the 49ers having traded up for a quarterback, the Falcons have the chance to take this year’s top non-QB prospect. Many experts believe that is Kyle Pitts, and many around the league expect the Falcons to draft the Florida tight end. Pitts said the Falcons are interested, and the 6-foot-6 pass catcher would team with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley to form an imposing aerial trio. The Falcons could also take Oregon tackle Penei Sewell. However, the team has 29-year-old left tackle Jake Matthews and used a first-round pick on right tackle Kaleb McGary in 2019.
Option 3 would be moving the pick. The Falcons are interested in moving down, likely eyeing the type of trade package the Dolphins received (three first-rounders and a third) to do so. Multiple teams have contacted the Falcons about moving up. Washington is believed to be high on Lance, while Broncos GM George Paton has been busy trekking to QBs’ pro days. The Bears are eager to acquire a long-term QB as well, though Washington and Chicago’s draft slots — Nos. 19 and 20 overall — would up Atlanta’s asking price.
So, how will the Falcons proceed? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
If they stay at 4, Kyle Pitts. But they should trade down and collect picks. They should have traded down last year also, cause they would have been able to draft the same stinking guy and have more picks to rebuild this brutal team.
Exactly. I think everyone is still questioning that Clemson CB pick at 16 or whatever it was last year. This number for pit carries a lot of value whether it’s for a team wanting one of the quarterbacks or pitts or even chase
Accidentally posted before I was finished but I think you get the gist.
Ed Reed
Trade down! Atlanta needs a lot of help across the board.
This is a bit of a long term approach and there’s definitely some drawback to it but…
See that I’m in the first year of a GM/HC duo, I’d favor trading back* and acquiring future picks. If a team wants a QB and offers something similar (three firsts plus more) to what the Dolphins got from SF, I’d do it. My reasoning is to give myself more time to bring in my own staff and scouts, give them an entire year to evaluate players, and have more picks to choose from with that.
You see it all the time. New regimes come in and commit money and run a draft and then overhaul the scouting and development staffs in the summer when it’s over.
Yes, it’s sorta like punting on a draft, but why not set yourself up next year to have two first round picks, a year of scouting from YOUR scouts, and a year to see how Matt Ryan operates in Arthur Smith’s system.
*Only caveat is if you absolutely know your next franchise QB is there. Then you take him, everything be damned.
If you couldn’t win with Ryan, why would you need another franchise QB to go 5-11. A qb should be the last thing the falcons need
Trade down and get Pitts. Grab a QB in nexts year draft and a late round this year.
if they trade down they won’t get pits but I hope they trade down so a qb needy team grabs a qb and pits land with my fins . but ATL needs a QB I’m sorry but Ryan is 36 and they need a qb to sit behind him and learn. next yr trade down and net picks
Atlanta doesn’t need a QB, though. Ryan is still in that second tier of QB, behind Maholmes, Brady and Rodgers. They can win with him, and 36 really isn’t old for a QB.
Atlanta needs defense first and foremost. Trade down, accumulate picks, build the defense really should be the plan. Although Pitts is so special I don’t think taking him at #4 would be a bad move.
I think they trade down. Otherwise, draft Chase. That’s how they “go for it”. Give your mediocre QB ALL the weapons. Plus proactively grab their future #1 WR
Sewell should be the pick
Lawrence, wilson, fields/lance/jones
You take a guy who you can plug in at LT for the next 10 years.
Sewell at LT, Matthews at RT, kick mcgary inside to guard.
Also draft a center in 2nd round.
If they could trade down and stay in the top 12 it would be ideal. The Falcons Achilles heel has been their pass rush. They unfortunately don’t have a Chase Young or a Bosa to pick from, but they should still be circling the best pass rusher available. Pitts seems nice in a vacuum, but Hayden Hurst had a fine year and they already have tons of picks tied up in the offense. A decent pass rush can make up for the deficiencies in the secondary. Trufant spent almost his entire Falcons career having to chase receivers around for 20 seconds every play because nobody we’ve had since Freeney left can interrupt opposing QBs
If Fields is there at 4, it’s a gift and they better draft him. There is a Pitts in every draft, there is a CB, OL, Edge, all of those in every draft. A Fields, or maybe even Lance are pretty rare to be able to ever draft. You may not be in the top 5 again for 15years, who knows. Pick Fields.
Over-rated and over-hyped QBs outside of Lawrence. Odds are one proper starter and two journeyman backups and one flop out of four.
I think Wilson will be a solid starter. Not spectacular, but worthy of a #2. After that I tend to agree with you. With Fields, I just don’t trust Ohio State QBs. Jones has zero athleticism and was surrounded by talent, and has bust written all over him. Lance has never been asked to do that much.
Take a sure Hall of Famer (Pitts) or take a chance on a QB with warts? Pretty easy choice. They should trade out of that slot only if they can get one of the top ten players in this draft – plus – another first round pick.