The Atlanta Falcons will be headed into the 2022 NFL Draft looking to fill a ton of holes to kick-start a rebuild
The Falcons are not going to be good next season. They are in rebuild mode and will likely be looking to draft the best players available each time they are on the clock in the 2022 NFL Draft.
There’s no Matt Ryan (traded), no Calvin Ridley (suspended for gambling), and no Russell Gage (signed with Tampa Bay).
The team signed QB Marcus Mariota to a two-year contract last month, but experts say the deal gives the Falcons an easy early out after next season.
Most forecasts are grim on the outlook for the Falcons next season and that’s ok. They’re working with a new head coach, a new system, little star talent, and a chance to get better throughout the next couple of drafts before expectations begin to ramp up.
We’re taking a look at three ways Atlanta can earn an A in this year’s NFL Draft.
No 1. Atlanta Falcons should try to trade back in exchange for more draft picks
It may seem counter-intuitive to move the No. 8 overall pick in the draft, but if the team can send smoke signals that they will draft someone a team just has to have, they could bait them into trading up and picking up extra picks.
The difference in talent from pick No. 8 to say pick No. 20 is not that drastic. If Atlanta gets an offer to trade their first-round pick for a handful of other picks, they should strongly consider doing that.
Someone like New Orleans would be a team to watch in this very scenario. If the Saints covet a specific quarterback in this year’s draft, it may make sense for them to trade their No. 16 and No. 19 picks for the No. 8 overall pick.
If Atlanta can figure out a way to land two first-round talents, that’s an easy win in my book. The Falcons would likely have plenty of their top choices on their draft board still available to select, too.
They could find their future quarterback and future star wide receiver in the first couple of rounds if they get a buyer for the No. 8 overall pick.
No 2. Atlanta Falcons draft their quarterback of the future
Possible targets: Matt Corral, Desmond Ridder, Carson Strong
There are a handful of players that could be future starters in the NFL in this draft class and the Falcons should be taking a very close look at all of them.
Depending on where they pick in the first round (I’ve suggested a trade-back), they could secure their quarterback of the future.
Assuming they move to the mid-to-late first round, QB Malik Willis and QB Kenny Pickett would likely be off the draft board.
That would leave the next tier of quarterbacks for them to choose from: Matt Corral, Desmond Ridder, Carson Strong, and Sam Howell.
Any of these quarterbacks could ease their way into playing after being under the tutelage of recently signed QB Marcu Mariotta.
Matt Corral would be a huge upside pick— coming off an injury he sustained in the 2022 Sugar Bowl, he was once upon a time considered the top QB in this class.
Getting him in the mid-to-late first round would be a massive score for Atlanta. There would be absolutely no rush to get him on the playing field in his rookie season, which would allow him plenty of time to continue getting healthy, learn the system, and develop rapport with his new teammates.
No 3. Atlanta Falcons grab a starting running back or wide receiver
Targets: Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, Treylon Burks, Jahan Dotson
Atlanta is going to need a weapon to supplement the talents of star TE Kyle Pitts. The best way to do that is to go after a skill position player like a running back or wide receiver.
This year’s class is deep with wide receiver talent and short on running backs. Depending on which picks the Falcons have will be indicative of who they should be targeting.
If the Falcons are operating with their current draft capital, they’ll have the No. 43 overall pick, which falls near the upper half of the second round.
If available, the Falcons should consider taking Breece Hall, widely considered the top running back in this class. If he’s off the board, Kenneth Walker III should get some consideration with the team’s second-round pick. He was a Heisman trophy candidate for much of the season at Michigan State.
Also under consideration should be a player that could develop into WR1 on the Atlanta Falcons depth chart.
Someone like Treylon Burks, whose stock slipped slightly after a ho-hum draft combine. Or, perhaps someone like Jahan Dotson, a wide receiver out of Penn State that put up huge numbers last season in the Big Ten.
If the Falcons can obtain more draft picks, address their need for a quarterback, and add a skill position player, they will be well on their way to earning one of the best grades in the entire 2022 NFL Draft.