The Falcons are officially picking 8th in the 2024 NFL Draft… again. This will be the third year in a row, but this feels different. The Falcons are a team you can argue is a “quarterback away”, and if they have their guy, they may look to move up and secure him. The problem is that the Bears, Commanders, and Patriots — the teams who own the top three picks — may also be looking to grab a quarterback. Without a head coach, it’s going to be difficult to project scheme, so I’ll stick to my MO — best player available. No trades (for now), and I’ll be using PFF’s mock draft simulator. It isn’t perfect, but it’ll get the job done.
Round 1, Pick 8: QB Jayden Daniels — LSU
If Daniels is available with the 8th pick, the Falcons need to pounce. They clearly need a quarterback, and if they have to trade up to get one, they have to do it. Drake Maye is my personal favorite in this class, but they’d probably need to trade up to the second pick to get him. I doubt Washington will be too inclined to let him go. Daniels, however, is no slouch. The Heisman Trophy winner was one of the best pure passers in college football last season. I’m not sure he will be a huge threat in the NFL with his legs given his size, but he can make some plays with his feet if he has to. He has franchise quarterback potential, and with the right head coach, the sky’s the limit.
Round 2, Pick 43: WR Adonai Mitchell — Texas
I think a weapon makes sense at this point, and AD Mitchell is a really good one. The former Georgia Bulldog and current Texas Longhorn would be a nice complement to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, and he would give the Falcons a true WR2. Mitchell has strong hands and runs smooth routes, and he gives me a lot of “Calvin Ridley lite” vibes with the way he plays the game. Pitts, Robinson, London, and Mitchell would be a really impressive young stable of weapons.
Round 3, Pick 74: CB DJ James — Auburn
I’ve talked about James before, and if there’s one point in the defense where I think the Falcons could use some help, it’s in the secondary. He’s a larger corner with good instincts, but he’s a bit of a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. He isn’t a complete liability in man or zone coverage, but he doesn’t excel in either area. Regardless, the Falcons need some help in the secondary, and I think there’s good value with this pick.
Round 3, Pick 79 (From Jacksonville): WR Ricky Pearsall — Florida
Pearsall is an interesting player. He carried a lot of the load on Florida’s offense, and it’s clear he’s a pretty dynamic player. I’m really early in my film study, but I’ve gotten a lot of looks at Pearsall. Even with Mitchell in the fold, I think adding him would be a fun idea. We are talking about an offense that failed to score 30 points this season, and has only done it four times over the past three seasons. Pearsall just straight up gets open, and when he has the ball in his hands, he’s dangerous. He’s also a pretty solid blocker, which is a nice touch. I think the upside here is a lot higher than some people might think.
—
Photographer: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.