Atlanta holds the key to the draft. As I’ve been saying long before the 49ers traded up, the Falcons are the keystone team. What they do here will set up a massive domino effect that could 100 percent ruin this mock draft.
For so long, I’ve had a quarterback in this spot; I just wasn’t sure who would be on the clock. I think it’s in Atlanta’s best interest to trade down. I wouldn’t be shocked if they cook up a deal with New England. (Foreshadowing, much?) This is another instance of a multimillion-dollar sports organization completely disregarding a young sportswriter’s opinion. How rude.
If rookie GM Terry Fontenot is to trade out of this pick, I’d keep an eye on New England. I’m not sure Denver and their rookie GM, George Paton, would want to pay the price Atlanta asks for. But Bill Belichick? Considering how uncharacteristically aggressive he’s been this offseason, I wouldn’t put it past him.
For now, though, I see the Falcons failing to get the deal they want, shrugging their shoulders, and taking a smooth sip of wine as they take one of the best weapons to enter the draft in a long time. I find it a little tough to believe that they’d stay and take a quarterback here.
Alternative picks: Trade down, Justin Fields