Way Too Early Falcons Dueling Mock Drafts

Ladies and Gentlemen, nothing screams a week 1 overreaction like a Way Too Early Mock. After the major let down that the Falcons had week 1 against the Eagles, 32-6 loss at home, Adam Holloway (@Damski32 on Twitter) and I decided to kick back and have some fun with RiseNDraft.com’s mock draft simulator. We each ran two separate mocks, only four rounds long, and ran it differently to show the possibilities on the board for Atlanta. So lets get this underway:

Hunter Thompson Mock

In my mock, I chose to go with a route that many fans may not love at first glance. I don’t really bolster the trenches early, I grab Matt Ryan’s successor even though we may have more pressing needs, and I grabbed a couple of the more “raw” prospects that fill more of a role than can become immediate starters. It isn’t necessarily as flashy as some, but I do think a mock like this would do wonders for filling out the roster and giving our Falcons a solid foundation to be building on:

Round 1 Pick 6: Kyle Hamilton, SAF, Notre Dame

Right, its not someone to add to the trenches, but hear me out. Hamilton is one of, if not the best, prospect in this upcoming draft class. Hamilton is a 6’4″ 220lb safety that can do it all. He can be the TE eraser, he can step up in the box, he runs the single high, he can blitz, and his tackling is top tier. He has six interceptions in his collegiate career already (four as a true freshman and already two on this young season). Giving the Falcons a budding safety trio of Hamilton, Richie Grant, and Jaylinn Hawkins would give Dean Pees the ability to create all kinds of different defensive looks and mismatches. Plus Hamilton is an Atlanta kid, so that’s just an added bonus.

Round 2 Pick 37: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

Once again, not trenches but once again, hear me out. Matt Ryan isn’t getting any younger and him currently behind this offensive line is not a good recipe for extending his shelf life. Here we have the Falcons grabbing Matt Corral from Ole Miss. Corral is one of the most exciting QB’s in this upcoming draft class. He has a great arm and is mobile enough to extend the pocket and make all the throws on the field. Corral is a vocal and charismatic player who could bring a lot of fun energy to the Falcons while providing us the opportunity to stabilize the position for the long term. Only con to Corral is that a redshirt year would really really benefit him because as high as his highs are, his lows are incredibly low.

Round 2 Pick 43: Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

Finally got to the trenches. First let me clarify, I am a Kaleb McGary believer so this pick could easily change as the season goes on. But, right now the OL needs a remodel. Matthews and Lindstrom are the only current players I am convinced are worth keeping, and there wasn’t a great iOL on the board so looks like McGary is the odd man out in this mock. Faalele is a monster of a human being measuring in at 6’8″ 370lbs. He didn’t look amazing in 2019, but came out firing on all cylinders this season looking so much better. He has long arms and has a good base in pass pro, not to mention he is an absolute mauler in the run game. Adding Faalele to the Falcons OL would be a good step to helping Smith and Fontenot in turning this team into a contender.

Round 3 Pick 68: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

The former number one overall prospect, Nolan Smith has been a little underwhelming so far in his UGA career. But Smith is looking to turn those fortunes around this season. In his season opener against Clemson, he was constantly generating pressure for the Bulldogs defense, with three tackles and a sack. Smith is a smaller EDGE at 6’3″ 235lbs who could be a good DPR (Designated Pass Rusher) for the defense that Atlanta is trying to build. Smith is raw and has plenty of areas to improve, but we grab him in the third to help our underwhelming pass rush.

Round 4 Pick 105: Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina

And the last pick in this mock I have the Falcons grabbing DL Zacch Pickens from the university of South Carolina. The former 5-star recruit is incredibly similar to Nolan Smith in the sense that we are still waiting for them to burst out. But Pickens looks like he is starting to do it. Pickens, the 6’4″ 305lb DL, is a solid run defender who could be a good rotational piece along the DL with guys like Marlon Davidson, Ta’Quon Graham, and Grady Jarrett already in place to help further his development. Pickens needs to really improve as a pass rusher, to be justified at this pick, but it’s week 1 and I am banking on his growth as a player this year.

Adam Holloway Mock

Round 1 Pick 6: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

• Evan Neal presents something that ATL hasn’t had since the Bob Whitfield days, and that’s a legit body mover. Neal is about to forklift defenders and acts like a bouncer and takes his opponents out of the club. Has massive size and when he gets his massive hands on you it’s basically over. Has incredible ability to finish blocks and asserts himself physically.

Round 2 Pick 37: Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia

• Jordan Davis gives you some moxie on the DL in the form of a NT. Davis isn’t your typical NT; he’s the new era of NT who can be effective in the pass game as well. With an undersized NT now in Tyler Davison, it’s clear the defense struggle to maintain gap control with linebacker Deion Jones. Not only does Davis help the DL and give Pees a key cog in the middle, but he’ll help see less double teams.

Round 2 Pick 43: Jordan Battle, SAF, Alabama

• Jordan Battle gives ATL a much needed Swiss Army knife on the backend and a tone setter in the secondary. Battle is really coming along in man and zone coverage but he’s also a load in the box. Battle doesn’t shy away from tackle and relishes the idea of taking on a RB in the hole. Atlanta lacks this kind of player and double dipping into Alabama’s program really sets the team up for the future.

Round 3 Pick 68: Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame

Williams gives you that hard running outside zone RB who can hit a hole fast and on time. Arthur Smith also puts a huge emphasis on RBs blocking out of the backfield and can do that. Also features soft hands receiving. What really stands out to me is his patience and explosion; he can take off quickly and is effective at setting up his blockers.

Round 4 Pick 105: Ty Fryfogle, WR, Indiana

The 6’2″ 215lb boundary WR from Indiana could be a solid running mate to pair with Calvin Ridley and give Matt Ryan a safety net target and a new potential weapon for inside the red zone. Ryan has typically struggled in the red zone, so another big WR with solid hands is a good fit. We have to add weapons who can impact the short term and long term pictures, Fryfogle does that.