After the NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons are all over the news, with rumors surrounding a potential trade involving Julio Jones. It could come to fruition at any moment, so keep close attention to that ongoing situation.
As for the rest of the team, the Falcons hope to be a much-improved franchise going forward.
The 2021 NFL Draft was crucial for the Falcons' future, as the front office acquired some solid talent to build upon. Kyle Pitts is a unicorn of a player and could be the sparkplug the offense needs to be competitive. Additionally, Richie Grant and Jalen Mayfield were great selections as well. Grant is in line to be an immediate starter while should be competing for the starting job during the remainder of the offseason.
The Falcons also stacked the roster with solid depth on the offensive line and secondary unit, which could be huge for this franchise down the road.
Even so, the draft wasn't perfect for the Falcons by any means.
The roster is still rather questionable, and considering they play in the same division as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, the Falcons could still be in for a long season. There were two glaring mistakes made during the 2021 NFL Draft that could play a huge role in Atlanta's struggles next year.
Falcons NFL draft mistakes:
1. Avoided drafting a running back
After opting to not re-sign Todd Gurley and letting the entire running back room go, the front office signed Mike Davis to the roster during free agency. He had a solid year for the Carolina Panthers as he filled in for Christian McCaffrey during his injuries. Even so, it's unclear whether or not Davis can be a legitimate starting running back, as he's been in the league for 5 years and is just now getting a starting opportunity.
Many had the Falcons pegged as a franchise that would draft a running back this year. Instead, the front office elected to not draft a running back at all, and instead signed Javian Hawkins as an undrafted free agent. The depth of the position is less than stellar and is a potential weak point in the Falcons offense. Signing Mike Davis was a smart move, but not drafting a quality running back was a mistake.
2. Didn't address the defensive line until round 5
The Falcons defensive line had some issues last year, mainly in the pass-rushing department. They finished in the bottom 10 in sacks (29) and waiting until round 5 to get a pass-rusher doesn't bode well for their chances of improvement. The front office selected Ta'Quon Graham and Adetokunbo Ogundeji. Graham is more of a run-stopping defensive tackle while Ogundeji has been viewed as a project that needs development.
Not exactly the best situation to be in for a team that could hardly sack the opposing quarterback. With the rumors surrounding Julio Jones, hopefully, the front office can acquire a pass-rusher via trade to make up for the mistake made in the 2021 NFL Draft. If that's the case, then the Falcons have a chance to correct at least one of their mistakes.
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