The Falcons 2019 draft is producing some quality players, even if most fans think Thomas Dimitroff never did anything well. To this point, only two of the seven-player draft class have been cut — fifth-round pick cornerback Jordan Miller and sixth-round pick running back/punt returner Marcus Green. The draft class has produced some high-end talent, such as Chris Lindstrom. It has also netted valuable role players, but a member of the class is in danger of being left off the 2021 53-man roster — Kendall Sheffield.
Round 1, Pick 14: OGÂ Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
Round 1, Pick 31: OTÂ Kaleb McGary, Washington
Round 4, Pick 9: CBÂ Kendall Sheffield, Ohio State
Round 4, Pick 33: DE John Cominsky, Charleston
Round 5, Pick 14: RBÂ Qadree Ollison, Pittsburgh
Round 5, Pick 34: CBÂ Jordan Miller, Washington
Round 6, Pick 31: RB/KR/PRÂ Marcus Green, Louisiana-Monroe
John Cominsky back for the Falcons in a yellow no-contact jersey. Don’t expect to see Kendall Sheffield back today.
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) August 23, 2021
Lindstrom is a bonafide star, McGary has improved each year he’s been in the league, Cominsky seems poised for a breakout year, and Ollison’s running style is clearly appealing to this staff. The odd man out… Kendall Sheffield. It isn’t necessarily his fault that he is being pushed down the depth chart into dangerous waters. The former fourth-round pick hasn’t been a participant in what seems like the entire training camp and preseason.
The injury has been undisclosed to this point per NFL and NFLPA policy, but it is clear he will end up on IR or released in the final round of cuts, which will trim the roster to 53. Sheffield has an uphill battle to climb to gain ground on Chris Williamson, but in my most recent 53-man roster projection, the former Buckeye doesn’t quite make it.
I have the Falcons keeping six cornerbacks — A.J. Terrell, Isaiah Oliver, Fabian Moreau, Darren Hall, Avery Williams, Chris Williamson — and five safeties, one being T.J. Green, who has been cross-training at safety and corner. The roster spots are scarce. Sheffield will have to beat out Williamson because Hall has flashed the potential, and Williams is going to be the primary punt returner.
I feel for him because Sheffield had a clean slate with this new regime and was never healthy enough to make an impression it seems. I hope he can catch on somewhere because he’s still an incredible athlete with some impressive physical tools.
You must log in to post a comment.