Falcons Draft Grades

Draft weekend is over and its time to look at the Atlanta Falcons picks and decide if they fared well, or not so well. They came into the event with holes virtually everywhere, but I think it is safe to say WR, QB, and LB would be the 3 most glaring needs. So lets take a look at the Falcons draft grade.

 

8th Overall Selection (RD1-8) Drake London, WR, USC

London is a big body who can pluck the ball. Before getting hurt, he was torching PAC 12 defenses to the tune of 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns on 88 receptions through the first 8 games. Even with that being said, he didn’t make my top 5 WR list prior to the draft. Yes he can move the chains and catch balls, but I don’t see him as a legit WR 1 who can handle the load. A great WR 2 yes, but at 8 it’s too early for that. They still need a deep threat to help open things up for him. Before you hate on the grade, check my scouting report on him to see why.

Grade C+

 

38th Overall Selection (RD2-6) Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn St

With their second round selection they went Edge rusher. Unfortunately for the Falcons they have struggled to draft quality edge rushers over the seasons. I like Ebiketie’s potential, but question whether the Falcons’ coaching staff can get the most of him. There were a lot of players I felt the Falcons should have targeted here over Arnold. I hope he can change their run of bad luck drafting edge rushers as I really do love his upside.

Grade B+

 

58th Overall Selection (RD2-26) Troy Andersen, LB, Montana St

With their second pick in the second round the Falcons sure made me scratch my head. With the thinnest receiver room I can remember in a long time, I thought they may take another WR. However they would go with a LB from Montana St. Andersen possesses a lot of potential. However I thought this too early for him. Even if they did need a LB players like Chad Muma and Georgia’s Nakobe Dean were still on the board.

Grade C-

 

74th Overall Selection (RD3-10) Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

As I mentioned earlier, the Falcons needed to address the QB position and do so here. After trading away Matt Ryan they have bridge QB Marcus Mariota in house, but need to look to the future. I applaud them for passing on Malik Willis earlier and getting the player I thought they wanted all along. Ridder killed his combine performance and has played on big stages. He is already committed to Atlanta and winning a Super Bowl.

Grade A-

 

82nd Overall selection  (RD3-18) DeAngelo Malone, Edge, Western Kentucky

The Falcons attempt to bolster their pass rush once again. Thank goodness they are switching to a 3-4 defense, because I don’t think Malone could hold up as a 4-3 DE. Malone is a bit undersized, but has incredible traits and can flat get after the QB. If the Falcons coaching staff can coach him up a bit and scheme up ways to free him up as a pass rusher this pick may really pay off. I still think they could have traded back and got their guy though so that hurts this picks grade.

Grade B

 

151st Overall Selection (RD5-8) Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU

Falcons fans, Can you even name your running backs? Well now you can. Allgeier was a great grab as running backs started falling left and right. He has a nose for the end zone and is a tough runner who should see considerable time sooner than later.

Grade B+

 

190th Overall Selection (RD6-11) Justin Shaffer, G, Georgia

The Falcons look to add depth to the O-line with this pick. Shaffer is capable of providing depth, but that’s about it. I didn’t like this pick at all, as one of my favorite guards Cade Mays of Tennessee was still available. He went just 9 picks later and I view him as a starter at the NFL level.

Grade D+

 

213th Overall Selection (RD6-35) John Fitzpatrick, TE, Georgia

I feel like the Falcons were just throwing darts at the wall at this point. I mean I don’t think Fitzpatrick would have been drafted at all. They could have grabbed another player and picked him up as an UDFA. He is a blocker who didn’t even have 20 catches in his career at Georgia.

Grade D

 

Falcons Draft Grade Overall C-

The Falcons entered the weekend with a ton of holes to fill and really didn’t fill many. This class is going to be decided by whether or not Ridder becomes the guy. If he does, then all the other negatives will vanish. If he doesn’t, I see fans talking about what could have been for years to come.

Falcons Draft Grade Analyst-Ken Noble.