It is officially draft season, the Falcons are slotted to pick 8th overall in the 2022 NFL draft, and they hold three top-60 picks thanks to the Titans’ second-round pick from the Julio Jones trade.
The offseason kicks off with the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, which is a showcase of draft-eligible seniors. The Falcons nine-man 2021 draft class comprised of four former attendees of the Senior Bowl. Richie Grant, Ta’Quon Graham, Ade Ogundeji, and Frank Darby participated in last year’s event. Even though he went undrafted, Feleipe Franks was another invitee that ended up in Atlanta.
It’s no coincidence the Falcons have dipped into the Senior Bowl pool, either. Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith have been outspoken since their first press conference in the kind of players they want to bring in — accountable, intelligent, and tough. The Senior Bowl epitomizes those attributes. Generally speaking, seniors are more dependable and are further developed mentally.
Fontenot and Smith want to bring in players who want to be in Atlanta and can take accountability for themselves. There is a positive correlation between maturity and Senior Bowl invitees because, physiologically, these young men are further along than some of the younger draft-eligible prospects.
Here is a list of attendees to keep an eye out for:
Quarterbacks
Kenny Pickett, Pitt
Sam Howell, North Carolina
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Malik Willis, Liberty
Carson Strong, Nevada
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky
Running Backs
Hassan Haskins, Michigan
James Cook, Georgia
Tyler Badie, Missouri
Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama
Jerome Ford, Cincinnati
Rachaad White, Arizona State
Zaquandre White, South Carolina
Wide Receivers
Jahan Dotson, Penn State
Alec Pierce, Cincinnati
Romeo Doubs, Nevada
Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama
Calvin Austin III, Memphis
Tre Turner, Virginia Tech
Khalil Shakir, Boise State
Christian Watson, North Dakota State
Danny Gray, SMU
Tight Ends
Trey McBride, Colorado State
Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State
Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina
Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
Jake Ferguson, Wisconsin
Daniel Bellinger, San Diego State
Grant Calcaterra, SMU
Offensive Linemen
OT Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
G Zion Johnson, Boston College
OT Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
G Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
OL Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
OT Abraham Lucas, Washington State
OT Max Mitchell, Louisiana
OT Luke Goedeke, Central Michigan
G Ed Ingram, LSU
Interior Defensive Linemen
Travis Jones, UConn
Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma
Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
Zachary Carter, Florida
John Ridgeway III, Arkansas
Haskell Garrett, Ohio State
EDGE Defenders
Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
Logan Hall, Houston
Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati
Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
Josh Paschal, Kentucky
Tyreke Smith, Ohio State
Amare Barno, Virginia Tech
Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Off-ball Linebackers
Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma
Darrian Beavers, Cincinnati
Damone Clark, LSU
JoJo Domann, Nebraska
Devin Lloyd, Utah
Quay Walker, Georgia
Chad Muma, Wyoming
Jesse Luketa, Penn State
Channing Tindall, Georgia
Terrel Bernard, Baylor
Cornerbacks
Roger McCreary, Auburn
Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
Derion Kendrick, Georgia
Mario Goodrich, Clemson
Tariq Woolen, UTSA
Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska
Akayleb Evans, Missouri
Jaylen Watson, Washington State
Safeties
Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
Jalen Pitre, Baylor
Damarri Mathis, Pitt
Tycen Anderson, Toledo
Yusuf Corker, Kentucky
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