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The Atlanta Falcons have quietly been preparing for the NFL to hand down its sanctions against wide receiver Calvin Ridley. On Monday, the NFL suspended the wide receiver for the entire 2022 season after he was caught placing bets on games, including betting on the Falcons to win. Of course, Ridley was away from the team for most of last season, having played five games before stepping away for mental health reasons. With the 27-year-old set to miss the entire season, he'll have featured in just five of the Falcons' last 34 games when this season comes to an end. It's wholly possible that the team will look to move on from the wideout, and they could look to address the need via the 2022 NFL Draft. If they do choose to explore that avenue, here are four wide receivers they should be targeting early on in the draft.
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4 Wide Receivers Falcons Can Draft to Replace Calvin Ridley
4. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
The Falcons have been linked with a variety of positions with their first-round pick, but they could decide to address their new need at wide receiver with the No. 8 overall pick. That selection would likely land them the best wide receiver in this draft class, who many experts tout as being Ohio State's Garrett Wilson. The Falcons would be making quite the investment to secure Ridley's replacement if they opted to draft Wilson in the first round. Wilson is a dynamic receiver who has even drawn comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr, and he could be an ideal candidate to step into the role vacated by Ridley.
3. Drake London, USC
Imagine how impossible to defend a tandem of Kyle Pitts and Drake London would be? Standing in at 6-foot-5, London is huge for a wide receiver and could step in and provide immediate production at a position of need for the Falcons. Much like Wilson, he'd likely require the Falcons to use a first-round pick in order to acquire him, but the payoff could be tremendous given his intangibles. With the WR1 spot open in Atlanta after Ridley's suspension, London has the potential to step in and claim it for himself as a rookie.
2. Jahan Dotson, Penn State
Jahan Dotson is the polar opposite of London. He stands in at 5-foot-11 and weighs 185 pounds, but utilizes his speed to create separation from opposing cornerbacks. With Kyle Pitts already serving as a large-bodied target for Matt Ryan, the Falcons could be tantalized by Dotson's speed and elect to pursue him in the second or third round. Dotson ran a 4.43 40-yard dash, and is coming off a season where he caught 92 receptions for 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns. If he continues to impress leading up to the draft, the Falcons could be among the teams interested in bringing him on board.
1. George Pickens, Georgia
Why not replace one Georgia wide receiver with another one? George Pickens could be the ideal candidate to replace Ridley in Atlanta, especially considering he's not projected to be taken off the board until the second or third round. The Falcons could then utilize their earlier pick to draft a key cog for the secondary, or perhaps even roll the dice on Malik Willis as the future at quarterback. Pickens could be grabbed at pick No. 43, though that may be a reach. He'd be great value for Atlanta at pick No. 58, however, and if he's available at that point in the draft, the Falcons should have no hesitations about going after him.
