The Atlanta Falcons need to make a splash in the 2020 NFL Draft. With the news that head coach Dan Quinn is returning as head coach in 2020, Quinn will have a short leash and will certainly be on the hot seat.
What better way to add serious talent than to take the local star at a position like running back. Georgia running back D'Andre Swift is battling Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor and Clemson's Travis Etienne for the top RB prospect in the 2020 class.
At 6-9, Atlanta is currently slotted with the No. 13 pick in the draft. Running back's aren't valued as high as they were in previous eras, but most draft experts have Swift going in between the mid-first round and early second round.
Swift has been an absolute superstar for the Georgia Bulldogs over the last three years. As a junior, the 5-foot-9, 215-pound back has 1,432 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns. Swift's 6.6 career yards per carry shows how explosive Swift can be in between the tackles and in the open field.
The UGA back is a threat to score every time he touches the ball and even with offensive line struggles, the Falcons definitely could use that kind of ability. His less-than-ideal size has prevented Swift from being a top pick in the draft, but that could work in Atlanta's favor.
The Falcons' rush offense has been god awful this year ranking 30th in the NFL in rushing yards per game and 22nd in rushing touchdowns.
After Pro Bowl seasons in both 2015 and 2016, starting running back Devonta Freeman has regressed. As it was mentioned before, it's hard to run behind an offensive line of that caliber. Regardless, totaling just 598 rushing yards on 3.6 yards per carry this season, Freeman may not be the long-term answer in Atlanta.
Picking Swift as early as pick No. 13 is a bit risky and the Falcons have other needs to address. However, players like Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs have shown that picking a running back in the first round can provide a game-changing impact for a franchise.
Swift hasn't completely solidified himself as the top back in this year's class and it's very possible that teams can fall in love with other backs such as Taylor and Etienne. Multiple running backs picked in the first round isn't very likely so depending on how things shake out, the Falcons could snag a top player in the draft possibly in the second round.
Follow Us
Subscribe