Kelsey Conway found a very interesting quote from Terry Fontenot today that provides us with a crystal clear picture of how the new regime will approach the NFL draft and free agency.
I thought #Falcons GM Terry Fontenot's response to a question asked by a season ticket member with @archerqb16 regarding the balance between addressing needs vs. taking the BPA in the draft was really interesting and very telling of what to expect in the next 2 months: pic.twitter.com/3NDlLFejFw
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) February 17, 2021
Outside of quarterback, almost every need can be addressed in most free agent classes. For example, the Falcons, who are looking for a center to replace Alex Mack, would probably love to add Corey Linsley. But if they instead were to reach way up the board on a center that didn’t work out, they could have missed out on a better player at another position. This is why the Falcons are in the spot they’re in. The old regime was constantly chasing their tail and plugging holes in the roster as new ones opened up. They also were miserable at finding talent in free agency.
The way Fontenot approaches the draft is by taking the best player no matter what position they play, which builds valuable depth. When you have limited funds to spend, this is extremely important. I was a big believer in drafting for what you need in the NFL, but I think Fontenot will have a lot of success in a deep class. He has already changed my mind, and if he finds a few gems at unexpected positions, he’ll change a lot more.
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