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Atlanta Falcons Must Not Draft Todd Gurley In 1st Round

By Dusty Haralson

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The Atlanta Falcons have struggled in the past two seasons. After making it to the NFC Championship game in the 2012 season, the Falcons posted a disappointing 4-12 record in the 2013 season, following up with a 6-10 2014 campaign, just falling short of making the playoffs. Most of the shortcomings can be blamed on lousy play in the trenches, the loss of Tony Gonzalez, and an unproductive running game.

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With the release of Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers signing with the Chicago Bears, the hope of drafting Todd Gurley with the Falcons’ eighth overall pick to patch up the running game has created some buzz in Atlanta. Especially since Gurley played only 70 miles up the road.

Gurley was one of the University of Georgia’s feature running backs for three years. During his tenure in Athens, Gurley racked up and average of 1,095 rushing yards and 36 rushing touchdowns. He was a major contender in the 2014 Heisman Memorial Trophy race, but, a 4 game suspension and the late season ACL tear against Auburn hindered his chance of lifting college football’s most coveted prize. Keep in mind, he still bulldozed his way to 911 yards, despite sitting out six games. That’s right, half of the college football season.

The right move, however, the unpopular one, is to pass on Todd Gurley in the first round. The Falcons have other needs to address in the first round other than a running back. There are several defensive ends and outside linebackers that Atlanta could use to turn the worst defense in the league into a team that could at least force offenses into three and outs every once in a while.

Falcons fans, who also tend to be Georgia fans, should not be disappointed when Gurley is not drafted by the local team. He had great times when he played for the Bulldogs, and Georgia fans will remember those moments and games. But he is not worth the first round pick, especially with the personnel needs on the defensive side of the ball.

I’d also like to point out that my opinion on this matter has nothing to do with the fact that Gurley tore his ACL last season. With the major advancement in sports medicine treatments and the rehabilitation process, I am very confident that Gurley will make a strong comeback.

There are other answers for the running back woes in Atlanta. After all, the Seattle Seahawks found receiver Chris Matthews working in a Foot Locker, and he made huge impact, in the Super Bowl of all games.

ESPN reported that Matthews wasn’t on Seattle’s roster as far as two months ago — but against the Patriots he showed how essential he can be to the team. He made four catches and was a MVP candidate until the Patriots won the game.

Cut by the Cleveland Browns in 2011, Matthews all but gave up on the NFL, and ended up playing in Canada before trying to make a living by working at Foot Locker and as a security guard.

You can find a receiver or a running back anywhere, they are a dime a dozen. You didn’t watch players like Victor Cruz or Alfred Morris play college football, yet they are top players in the NFL. That being said, the Falcons don’t need to jump at the first Heisman candidate they see.

Gurley is a hell of a player, and if he was available in the second round by the time the Falcons pick comes around, then I think they should pick him. But Atlanta should keep looking to select the top defensive prospects like Randy Gregory, Vic Beasley, Dante Fowler, Shane Ray, and Leonard Williams, not necessarily in that order. If the Atlanta Falcons want to be anywhere near Super Bowl contention again, it is time to retool the defensive front.

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