Everyone expects the Falcons to take a defensive player with their top pick. The only problem is that Terry Fontenot has been married to drafting the best player available.
If your argument is, “Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, Quinyion Mitchell, etc. are going to be the pick because the Falcons need a pass rusher/cornerback.” Then you’ve lost me. Believing they’re the pick because they’re the highest-rated player on Atlanta’s draft board is better reasoning.
Fontenot has been quite outspoken about his dedication to drafting the best player available, regardless of the position because of its proven track record.
“When you look at the history of drafts, you can look at a lot of times like, ‘Okay, we really need a pressure player, so make sure you get that,'” Fontenot said, via Daniel Flick of Sports Illustrated. “But we can look back at drafts where someone reached on a pressure player and left some really good football players on the board at other positions.”
Whether you believe it’s the right or wrong approach, it’s what I expect. Maybe the Falcons bend a little bit, but I wouldn’t expect much, which is why I’m confused fans have ruled out drafting a receiver.
Yes, the defense desperately needs a pass rusher, but ignoring Fontenot’s history in the draft is crazy. The Falcons could certainly end up with one of Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers if they fall, and the latter could take the offense to an entirely different level.
“But Malik Nabers is the kind of talent that would change the ceiling of the Falcons offense,” Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report said.
The all-time leading receiver in LSU program history is the perfect complement to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, both of whom are big-bodied pass catchers and present different strengths compared to Nabers.
There will never be another Tyreek Hill. He’s just that damn special, but Malik Nabers is about as close as you’ll get. His ability to accelerate is mind-boggling. The runner-up to the Biletnikoff Award is one of the most explosive pass catchers I’ve ever seen and is a future superstar if he can get a quarterback worth a damn.
With Kirk Cousins in the fold, a Falcons receiving core with Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Malik Nabers would easily be in the conversation for the best in football.
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Photographer: John Korduner/Icon Sportswire
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