The Falcons kicked off the 2022 NFL draft by selecting USC’s Drake London with their eighth overall pick Thursday night. Reciever was an obvious need after Atlanta lost Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Russell Gage in less than a year. However, so was EDGE, which has been a weakness of the Falcons for as long as I can remember. There are also questions regarding the future at quarterback. Long story short, the team has needs at every position, meaning every draft pick will likely fill a void.
With four picks on Friday, the Falcons will have an excellent chance to bolster the roster in the second and third rounds. Whether they convert on those selections is another story. Last year, the Falcons draft class outside of Kyle Pitts was abysmal. That isn’t to say they can’t develop into solid contributors — I’m still very high on Richie Grant — but the 2022 draft class has to have more hits than misses.
In Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft of Day 2, The Athletic’s highly regarded pundit has Atlanta drafting the man who would take over for Marcus Mariota, as well as a workout warrior on the defensive side of the ball.
43. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
It will be interesting to see if the value of one of these quarterbacks is too great for the Falcons to pass on.
58. Atlanta Falcons: Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
Andersen is a special athlete and the type of building block the Falcons should be targeting for their rebuild.
Corral has the makeup to be a franchise quarterback. I love the moxie he plays with — a more authentic Baker Mayfield, similarly confident to Joe Burrow. I don’t think Falcons fans would be too upset coming away with the Ole Miss product; I sure wouldn’t.
With the Falcons’ second pick tonight, Brugler slots the Falcons taking the most versatile player in the draft — Troy Anderson. He made a notable impact at Montana State as a quarterback, running back, and linebacker. The former cattle rancher ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds, the fastest time recorded by any linebacker at this year’s combine.
Brugler rounded out the second day with Cameron Thomas, a defensive line prospect from San Diego State, and Isaiah Spiller, a running back from Texas A&M.
Who do you think the Falcons should draft?
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