Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft: Media split on Falcons pick at #8

The Atlanta Falcons hold the 8th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, that is three months away. It is the second consecutive year, that the Falcons are picking in the top 8. Atlanta are a team devoid of talent in many areas of their roster, so they could go a number of different ways with their opening pick. This is reflected by the huge discrepancy between several media personnel on who Terry Fontenout will select with his first round pick. 

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
Wide Receiver: Treylon Burks, Arkansas.

Jeremiah has the Atlanta Falcons selecting wide receiver Treylon Burks in round one. Barring a Calvin Ridley trade, I'd be against taking a wideout at 8 overall. I feel the Falcons have bigger area of needs. Despite me feeling this way, Jamarr Chase has shown the difference an elite wideout can make in year one.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com wrote "The Falcons have some uncertainty at the wide receiver position, and they need to add more firepower to their offense. Head coach Arthur Smith had tremendous success with A.J. Brown in Tennessee, and Burks is a taller version (6-foot-3, 225) of the third-year Titan. He is incredibly strong at the catch point and his blend of speed and strength creates huge plays after the catch."

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Cornerback: Devin Stingley, LSU.

Dean Pees defence is severely lacking in talent. Atlanta had the worst pass rush in the league in 2021, this requires their secondary to cover for longer. Stingley would slot in opposite AJ Terrell potentially giving the Falcons two starting cornerbacks for years to come.

Bucky Brooks has the Atlanta Falcons taking LSU cornerback Devin Stingley. Brooks had this to say, "Despite a pair of subpar seasons to finish his career at LSU, Stingley is a bona fide five-star talent with outstanding tools and playmaking ability."

WalterFootball.com
Quarterback: Sam Howell, North Carolina.

2022 might be Matt Ryan's final season as the Atlanta Falcons quarterback, they could potentially take Sam Howell as his heir this April, so he can sit and learn from Ryan. Although Matt Ryan isn't getting any younger, I would be surprised if Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenout select a quarterback at 8 overall. 

They had this to say about Howell, "The Falcons may have drafted Trey Lance had he fallen to them at No. 4 in the 2021 NFL Draft. They could have selected Justin Fields, but passed on him. They can make amends for that with this pick. Sam Howell threw for 38 touchdowns in 2019, which was a Division I-A record for a freshman. He doesn't have ideal size (6-1, 225), but there's no doubting his throwing ability."

Ryan Wilson, CBS.com
Cornerback: Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati.

Ryan Wilson of CBS agrees that the Atlanta Falcons secondary needs major improvement, but he has them selecting Ahmad Gardner over Devin Stingley.

Wilson wrote, "We wanted to see Sauce Gardner be a little more physical in 2021 and he was that and then some, to the point that he made a legit case to be the best cornerback in this class. He's long, athletic, sticky in coverage, and was rarely out of position during Cincinnati's impressive season. In Atlanta, the Falcons have a lot of needs, but could stand to freshen up the secondary where former first-rounder A.J. Terrell has been great, but there are plenty of questions otherwise."

Follow Us

We can be followed on Twitter @falcons_corner or on Instagram at falcons.corner. Who do you think the Falcons will take with the 8th overall pick? Feel free to leave it in the comments below.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

4 Wide Receiver Free Agents the Atlanta Falcons should consider signing

Image
The Atlanta Falcons leading wide receiver last season was Russell Gage, who averaged just 45 yards per game. This is simply unacceptable for a team who want to have playoff aspirations in 2022. Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus and Tajae Sharpe are all impending free agents. Calvin Ridley's future is uncertain with some speculation suggesting he might be traded. Atlanta's wide receivers as a group are one of the least talented units in the whole league. Falcons wide receivers ranked last in the NFL for % of a teams pass attempts thrown to their wideouts. I think Terry Fontenot should look to sign one receiver in free agency and add a second through the draft. I compiled a list of four wide receivers I think the Falcons should consider signing in free agency to bolster this skill group. Obviously, I avoided the likes of Davonte Adams and Chris Godwin, as they aren't affordable given our limited cap space. Christian Kirk: If the Falcons are looking to make a splash signing. Christian ...
Read more

Atlanta Falcons 15-29 Buffalo Bills: Bills eliminate Falcons from playoff contention

Image
The Atlanta Falcons were eliminated from the NFC playoff race after a 29-15 loss to the Buffalo Bills in freezing snowy conditions. The Falcons elevated five players from the practice squad to the roster before the game. Atlanta surprisingly led at half time 15-14, but a scoreless second half doomed them to a ninth defeat of the season. The Game The Falcons took a rare 2-0 lead, thanks to a safety. A forced fumble by Avery Williams on a Buffalo punt return, resulted in the ball ending up in the Bills endzone. The ball was recovered by Bills wideout Jake Kumerow. A quick Falcons three and out, gave Buffalo the ball at their own 31 yard line. The Bills moved the ball down the field with ease utilising their impressive set of wide receivers. Completions to Cole Beasley, Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis got the Bills to the Falcons redzone. A pass interference on AJ Terrell on 4th and goal gave Buffalo a new set of downs from the Atlanta 1. Josh Allen scored on a designed quarterback run to ...
Read more

New Orleans Saints 30-20 Atlanta Falcons: Dreadful Falcons fold like a cheap suit

Image
The Atlanta Falcons season ended in a pitiful manner. An embarrassing home loss to their most hated divisional rivals New Orleans Saints, who were forced to play the majority of the game with their third string quarterback. Losing is acceptable when your team fights hard and leaves everything on the field; but this was a gutless showing, that emphasizes just how much work there is to be done to fix this team. Arthur Smiths men won three more games, then the 2020 Atlanta Falcons, but they were assisted by having the second easiest schedule in the NFL. The Game Taysom Hill started at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. They opened the game on offense and orchestrated a dream drive. A run heavy approach saw Alvin Kamara pop off a 27 yard run to get the Saints in to Falcons territory. On a playaction pass, Hill found Adam Trautman, who lost Deion Jones in coverage; Trautman scampered into the endzone for an 18 yard score to give the Saints a 7-0 lead. They'd hold the lead for the r...
Read more