The Falcons won their divisional matchup against the Carolina Panthers 29-21 and are back in the hunt for the Wild Card spots. As always we are rolling out a dueling Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft challenge to see who can build this team back. But this week we are joined by two guest drafters.
This week joining Adam and Hunter will be: Eric Robinson (ESPN and the Falcoholic) and Luke Carr (Neptune Scouting and the 33rd Team). As always, be sure to vote in the Twitter poll to let us know who wins.
Hunter’s Falcons Mock Draft (@hthompsonNFL)
Round 1 Pick 9: Kyle Hamilton, SAF, Notre Dame
The Falcons need blue chip players across the board. Adding a safety might seem like a luxury pick. However, Kyle Hamilton is one of the best players in this draft. The rangy, dynamic safety would give Dean Pees a playmaker who can be used in a variety of ways for the Falcons defense.
Round 2 Pick 46: Nakobe Dean, LB, UGA
Another playmaker here, Nakobe Dean is one of the best LB’s in the nation. I don’t believe that Debo and Foye will both be on roster come next season, and Dean gives the Falcons the ability to move on. The explosive LB is a play waiting to happen and has been one of the best playmakers on the loaded Georgia defense.
Round 2 Pick 61: Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State
Here we have an EDGE off the board for the Falcons. Zach Harrison is a very toolsy EDGE rusher who needs to refine his pass rushing moves in order to take the next step. Harrison is very raw, but the traits he has makes him a versatile chess piece for the defense going forward.
Round 3 Pick 77: Travis Jones, DT, UConn
The 6’4″ 335lb NT would be a huge addition to a defense that has been gashed by the run all season long. Travis Jones is a good alternative to a guy like Jordan Davis, while not having to use a Round 1 pick on a nose tackle. Jones would free up blocks and clog holes and let this mock’s new look defense eat.
Round 4 Pick 114: Zion Tupuola-Fetui, EDGE, Washington
This draft is too loaded to not double dip at EDGE. EDGE has been a position of need for the Falcons ever since John Abraham left the roster. Adding Zion Tupuola-Fetui to pair with Harrison and Ogundeji would give the Falcons a young rotation of guys who can all get after the QB while giving Dean Pees the versatility to change the fronts.
Adam’s Falcons Mock Draft (@Damski32)
Round 1 Pick 9 – Kyle Hamilton, SAF, Notre Dame
Dynamic playmaker in every sense, brings an eraser on the backend to a defense that is struggling big time with safety play. Kyle Hamilton has Sean Taylor like range, with incredible tackling ability as well. He can cover up many defines in Dean Pees complex scheme that requires really good safety play as he’s constantly moving guys around. He and Pees, like Arthur and Pitts, are a match made in heaven.
Round 2 Pick 46- Myaji Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati
Myjai Sanders is a dynamic pass rusher out of Cincinnati. I remember watching him last draft cycle and thinking he needed to be more physical. He went back and did just that. He’s very good on stunts, something Pees loves to do with his EDGEs, but also gives you that versatility to drop off into coverage and carry TE’s/RB’s down field. His first step quickness and snap anticipation is fantastic and gives you a really good speed ball pass rusher.
Round 2 Pick 61 – Darrian Beavers, LB, Alabama
Darrian Beavers is a guy that I’ve tracked for a few games now and I’m so extremely impressed at the kid that I took him. His versatility screams the Belichick style defense in which guys are dropping and then blitzing every other play.
Their last game I was intrigued with him as a full-time pass rusher in the game and he was showing some really good strength with a bull rush. The next play he dropped and carried a RB wheel downfield. To me this is a no brainer and a fantastic scheme fit for Dean Pees
Round 3 Pick 77 – Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama
Basically an ox. No seriously, he’s really tough to move off of the ball in the run game and in the over/under fronts for Bama. He plays as a 5-tech (kind of how Pees is playing Mike Pennel currently) and he just shuts down a gap. I’ll admit he’s more than likely a career 2-down player, but he shows some decent reps in pass pro that I’d like to see what’s there in terms of development. Regardless, getting a big man from Alabama that is STOUT vs the run is always a W in my books.
Round 4 Pick 114 – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Breece Hall makes the list once again, and to me it’s just good value for the 6’1 225 lb RB. His ability to see the hole, and even at times create his own, is the reason why I keep mocking him and why I’m so heavy on this train. Hall is also showing to be quite impressive in the pass game, thus showing he has three-down ability. He was already pretty decent as a run blocker, but he’s showing he can run some good routes to get open to create big plays in the pass game.
Eric’s Falcons Mock Draft (@_Eric_Robinson)
Round 1 Pick 17: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
Traded down with Denver which netted a 2022 3rd, 2022 4th, and 2023 3rd. On the “best defender available” bandwagon, and a pass rusher with 10-sack a season potential was hard to pass up.
Round 2 Pick 46: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Athletic corner with an NFL frame (6’0 200), fluid hips, long speed, and a sharp football IQ.
Round 2 Pick 61: Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
Arthur Smith gets his bell cow RB that is capable of toting the rock 20+ times a game and providing a physical presence.
Round 3 Pick 76: George Pickens, WR, UGA
Not 100% certain that George Pickens would be here this late, but nonetheless here he is. A physical X-receiver with deep speed and big play ability.
Round 3 Pick 77: Grayson McCall, QB, Coastal Carolina
By no means does this spell the end of the Matt Ryan era, but the team should seriously think about life after Ryan. Greyson McCall can be groomed with his sharp accuracy and impressive velocity
Round 4 Pick 114: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Decided to double dip at edge rusher because you can never have too many athletic pass rushers with untapped potential. Worth the 4th round value.
Round 4 Pick 119: Zakoby McClain, LB, Auburn
Not positive that Debo Jones will be a Falcon in 2022. While it’s possible they lean to a Walker/Oluokun duo, the position is still in need of depth. In addition to McClain being a possible starter in 2023.
Luke’s Falcons Mock Draft (@LukeCarrNFL)
Round 1 Pick 9: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is a great scheme fit for the Falcons, a physical corner with long arms who presses hard at the line of scrimmage and disrupts all offensive momentum. Makes great plays on the ball and is a force in the run game too.
Round 2 Pick 46: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
Jermaine Johnson has risen through draft boards all season. The DE transfer from Georgia has racked up 12 sacks and 17.5 TFLs in 2021 and boasts a great range of pass rushing moves to beat any OT.
Round 2 Pick 61: Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama
Phidarian “Phil” Mathis is a versatile IDL who can play DT or even flex out to a 5-Tech DE when required. For a guy who is 6-4, 312lbs, his bend, mobility, and speed is outstanding. Great technique and has the power to line up anywhere.
Round 3 Pick 77: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
Jalen Tolbert is an X WR who has insane jump ball catch ability and extremely smooth route running — arguably one of the Falcons’ biggest needs entering this draft. He’d be a great pick (allowing Pitts more freedom), at 6-3, 195lbs he has the perfect frame to add another 10-15lbs on and make him a solid, durable NFL WR for years to come.
Round 4 Pick 114: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
Leo Chenal is a physical LB who attacks the run hard and takes on blockers superbly. Chenal has improved on his coverage ability in the last two seasons, and in 2021 was an All-B1G Ten First-Team selection. He would complement a rotation of Mykal Walker and Foye Oluokun perfectly.