While everyone expects the Falcons to draft a defensive player in the first round for the first time in Terry Fontenot’s tenure as general manager, fans shouldn’t count their chickens before they’re hatched.
Yes, the Falcons only interviewed defensive prospects at the NFL Combine, 45 of them to be exact. It was a wacky thing to do, even with the long-standing issues on the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons offense is not flawless, particularly up front on the line. Drew Dalman left in free agency, and while Ryan Nuezil started eight games last year, finding a long-term replacement should be on the table. Right tackle is also an area of concern. Kaleb McGary gets a lot of undeserved hate, but he’s not the kind of blindside blocker you want protecting your franchise quarterback.
There are scenarios in which the Falcons could still draft an offensive player outside of the first round… or maybe even in the first round? According to Brian Davis, Atlanta held a private workout for projected first-round pick and offensive lineman Kelvin Banks out of Texas.
Source: Texas LT Kelvin Banks had a private workout with Atlanta Falcons GM Terry Fontenot and HC Raheem Morris in attendance late last week in Austin. Falcons pick 15th overall. #NFLDraft
— Brian Davis (@byBDavis) March 31, 2025
Here is what Trevor Sikkema of PFF had to say about Banks, who won 2024 Outland Trophy:
“Banks is an NFL-caliber athlete at the tackle position whose movement skills and run-blocking abilities give him positional versatility. His lack of arm length could hinder him at offensive tackle, but he projects as an impact starter at either tackle or guard.”
The Longhorns product played left tackle in Austin, so if the Falcons did shock a lot of people by selecting him in the first round, I assume it would be done with the intention of moving on from Kaleb McGary and asking Banks to switch sides of the line of scrimmage. That kind of request is a tall order for some, but perhaps Banks is capable.
Regardless, it is pretty ironic that the Falcons made a whole show about only bringing defensive coaches to the combine to interview defensive prospects. Only for them to turn around and hold a private workout for an offensive prospect that many expect to go in the first round of the draft.
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