It feels like it’s been an eternity that I last wrote a piece. Actually it has been, early last month. Life just happens.
Though I have kept up with all the sports that are going on and all newsworthy sports material happening, I haven’t been able to just sit down and write.So let’s talk about it. First up the Atlanta Falcons and the draft that is taking place just hours from now. Though I haven’t even mentioned the new brass in town. Head Coach Dan Quinn was fired and galloped on over to Dallas as the Cowboys new defensive coordinator. It wasn’t soon after that (S) Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee both joined him. This wasn’t a surprise because in today’s NFL, players are loyal to coaches. The same day Quinn was let go, General Manager Thomas Dimitroff was given his walking papers by Arthur Blank. So two vacancies needed to be filled and filled they were. Titans Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and assistant general manager of the Saints Terry Fontenot impressed Blank and company enough to earn the keys to One Falcon Place in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
Now on to the draft. Last season the Falcons ended the season 4-12, missing out on the playoffs once again since 2017 when they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round. The 4-12 record is the reason they sit at the number 4 pick in tomorrows draft.
Starting QB Matt Ryan restructured his contract once again which means he will be with Atlanta at least for the next two seasons, if not traded. Ryan is the only QB on staff so the Falcons still need a QB. Who ever is picked by the Falcons will sit at least a year or two until it is their time, or the team feels he doesn’t fit the team. So many mock drafts have the Falcons picking either Ohio State QB Justin Fields (from Kennesaw, Ga.) or North Dakota State QB Trey Lance. Though both players are good and could possible have great NFL careers, I wouldn’t take either. My reasoning is the Falcons can get a QB in the later rounds and groom him to start. If they do that, there will not be any pressure on the young QB to play this season or even next, as long as Ryan is healthy and still has a good grasp of this team.
So here is what I would do for the first pick for the Falcons at number four. It’s already been known by the sports media and even Fontenot has already said the team is talking to teams about trade options for wide out Julio Jones. Jones will be a hall of famer one day, but the team needs to focus on the team. Jones is 32, past his prime, but still a great player, but has been injured and been off the field more than on the field the last couple seasons. Fontenot should take the trade for Jones, ask for a 2nd, third, and 4th round picks next year for Jones. With Jones gone, that leaves a wide receiver spot open, then the fourth pick is a no-brainer. It should be TE from Florida, Kyle Pitts. Pitts is a receiving tight end with 4.3 speed and is a match up nightmare for opposing defenses. Pitts is 6’6 246 lbs and is a game changer like TE Tony Gonzalez was for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Falcons. Pitts could be the pick anyway, and trade Jones later, or keep Jones and hope he stays healthy, then pick up a QB later in the draft.
If Falcons draft Pitts, a no-brainer for me in the 3rd or 4th round would be from Florida, QB Kyle Trask. Trask is familiar with Pitts, and this could be a good match up in later years.
I am not creating a mock draft for the Falcons. It’s a waste of time because it’s all a guess with the NFL draft. But I will say my pick at #4 is TE Kyle Pitts and in the 3rd or 4th rounds draft QB from Florida Kyle Trask.
Happy 2021 NFL Draft Eve.
Header photo courtesy of Atlanta Falcons
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