The fourth overall round of the draft, in the possession of the Atlanta Falcons, could become a key position in the selection order; here we review the scenarios
The picture is starting to clear up. For months, the Jacksonville Jaguars they have been fixed in the draft projections. Apparently, the same has happened with the New York Jets. Then the San Francisco 49ers they changed to move up to third place overall, and you don’t do that unless there’s a player you know you want.
All this leaves a very interesting scenario for the Atlanta Falcons. It’s not necessarily a good thing. Definitely not a bad thing. Simply … interesting, because it leaves the new general manager Terry Fontenot, And the new head coach Arthur Smith, With options for his first draft at the front of the Falcons.
Working under the premise that San Francisco o vaja Jets don’t surprise everyone with an ace up your sleeve, the first three turns should be quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, waiting for you Trevor Lawrence i Zach Wilson be the first two.
The intrigue starts from the fourth global turn. There are some alternatives for Falcons.
Select a quarterback
As a general manager and coach, you don’t want to be choosing frequently within the Top-5. If that happens, you probably won’t keep this site for long. So, while Atlanta lie here, investing in a quarterback would be one of the most obvious paths.
The way Atlanta handle this situation could depend on the players available at this time. If a quarterback the team considers to be among the top five players this year is still there –and at least two of them in the group Trey Lance, Justin Fields i Mac Jones will be available– then it makes sense to go with a pin.
There are some details, here, though. Discounting an Injury a Matt Ryan, A quarterback would not play in 2021. It would be highly unlikely that the quarterback would play in 2022 as well, although according to the Roster Management System, Atlanta would save $ 23,750,000 in space below the salary cap if designated post cut June 1 (at the time he would remain paired with a charge for $ 24,921,500 in dead money).
So, yes Atlanta consider Ryan, Close to turning 36, as the player around whom to build over the next three years, then a quarterback would make no sense because almost half of the player’s rookie contract would be spent sitting Behind Ryan.
There are two reasons to take a quarterback here: Your plan is to move on without Ryan at some point in the near future after 2021, or do you think the player is so important that he will be your pin for the next decade after Ryan. If none of these things are true, it’s best to pick an elite talent in another position, and select a quarterback later, with the potential to develop in the future.
Atlanta currently has a quarterback on staff –Ryan– so the Falcons they need someone there. Depending on who it is, a lot could be determined about the short-term and long-term future of the franchise. It is the first truly great decision for Fontenot i Smith, And one that could define your start-up mandates.
Select Oregon’s Penei Sewell offensive lineman
The question here could be how they consider the Falcons a Sewell. He measures 6 feet by 6 inches, weighs 325 pounds, and has experience as a tackle, so that would be his logical position. Although it would be amazing to see him as a guard –they Falcons they already have Jake Matthews i Kaleb McGary as tackles– so guarding could be a short-term solution. Taking a player you consider a long-term guard in the No. 4 overall would be excessive – the last guard to be selected in the Top-10 was Quenton Nelson to the Indianapolis Colts in 2018– but if the bet is with Sewell as a long-term tackle, it could be worth the investment.
McGary is under contract until 2022 i Matthews until 2023, so Sewell could spend a year indoors before moving abroad, as none of the players have guaranteed money remaining in their contracts in case Atlanta take this route. And taking on a tackle in the Top-5 isn’t an atypical thing; the New York Giants they did this last year with Andrew Thomas at No. 4.
But Sewell it would be an improvement for the offensive line in case Atlanta the picks and could offer a blind side protector for the next decade, for whoever is playing as a quarterback for the Falcons. It won’t be an exciting choice, but it could be safe with a high floor and a high ceiling. Sewell is an elite prospect.
Select Florida Kyle Pitts Closed Wing
It might seem high to take a closed wing at No. 4; never happened in the era of super Bowl. Only twice has a closed wing gone to the Top-5: The member of the Hall of Fame, Mike Ditka, In 1961 and four times selected in the ‘ Pro Bol, Riley Odoms, In 1972. They both went to No. 5.
Having said that, Pitts is a different player and the NFL has evolved offensively to the point that closed wings are becoming something increasingly valuable in their offensives. Pitts, 6-foot with 6 inches and 245 pounds, ran an unofficial time of 4.44 seconds in the 40 yards, jumped 33 and a half inches in the vertical jump, and counted 22 reps on the bench press, during the pro day of Florida. It’s not what used to be a closed wing. It’s what a closed wing could end up being in the future.
“It’s a different bird to what has been a traditional closed wing,” said the head coach of the Detroit Lions, Dan Campbell, Ex closed wing of the NFL. “Or certainly when I was playing.”
He is young, too, which in theory means more room to grow in the future. It will not turn 21 years old until October, and increased its production every year to Florida (Although it recorded fewer receptions in a season altered by COVID-19 in 2020). In less than three full seasons, he became the historic leader in yards for receptions by a closed wing (1,492) and second in receptions (100).
Closed wing is a difficult position in terms of the transition from the collegiate to the NFL, Even for first-round or Top-10 recruits. But the construction of template Atlanta it should help here, too. Hayden Hurst is in the final year of his contract (though Atlanta could validate your option in the fifth year of contract, too) and Lee Smith arrived by agreement of a season. Among open receivers, Calvin Ridley is in contract year (although, as with Hurst, Atlanta owns an option in the fifth year of contract) i July Jones is under contract until 2023.
Upload the file Pitts in a group of receptors next to Jones, Ridley i Hurst it could be a nightmare for defensive rivals over the next couple of campaigns, at the very least.
Change to lower in order
This goes back to the quarterbacks. If there are equipment –Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and the Washington football team are candidates– who desperately want one of the remaining pins, Fontenot it could move from position and descend in order to become the capital of future draft. A willing partner for the exchange is required for this to happen, but it is likely Atlanta have options.
Considering the state of the staff, it would not be the worst of the moves if it materializes. Switching to lower in order also opens up more realistic options for taking on a defensive player: the linebacker Micah Parsons could be available in turns N ° 8 or 9, for example, and the defensive lineman Payroll receipts or the linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah they might be available after that. the corner workers Caleb Farley i Patrick Surtain II they could be part of the conversation, too, depending on how far you go Atlanta. And other players could be involved here, too, since half of the first round is where a lot of defenders are expected to start being called up from the podium.
Atlanta has 20 players under contract for 2022, although that number could grow if fifth-year options are validated for Hurst i Ridley, And the defensive will need new and young talent. While the defensive players don’t make up the elite of the elite in this year’s draft, there are explosive players available, and Fontenot you can invest the fourth overall turn to acquire more selections that will help in long-term staff rebuilding. This might be the best way to go Atlanta, If the team is not in love with one of the quarterbacks.