The NFL Draft is a magical moment for many young men whose dreams are realized over the course of three days. An interesting aspect of the event is how organizations value draft picks; the best clubs don’t care whether you’re a first-round or Day 3 pick. And the Falcons have had success in the latter rounds of the new regime’s tenure.
Ta’Quon Graham and Tyler Allgeier are the best examples. The former would’ve been in line for a prominent role in 2023, but the front office has bolstered the defensive front, so he’ll likely settle for a rotational role. Conversely, the latter will be Atlanta’s primary tailback for the foreseeable future after bursting on the scene as a rookie.
The next class of Day 3 draft picks are soon to join their new clubs, and PFF has already identified a target for the Falcons.
ATLANTA FALCONS: DL VILIAMI FEHOKO, SAN JOSE STATE
The Falcons have already started to add more power players to their defensive line, but they can’t stop after just signing Bud Dupree. Fehoko would give them a versatile run defender on the edge. The 276-pounder earned an 87.4 run-defense grade and a 90.2 pass-rushing grade last season.
Admittedly, I didn’t watch many San Jose State games, but I watched a lot of his brother’s games at LSU. Breiden entered the league following the Tigers’ 2019 National Championship run and has carved out a nice little career as a reserve defensive lineman. Viliami could follow in those footsteps, but I have my eye on a pair of Day 3 running backs.
Sean Tucker and Roschon Johnson should be available in the later rounds and are two different kinds of runners. The Syracuse product has elite burst and speed, providing the perfect complement to what Atlanta’s current backfield possesses — thunder and lightning. The Texas product is much different. He broke tackles at a higher rate than anyone in college football last year and is a load carrying the ball. Johnson gives you a similar skill set as Allgeier. Bijan Robinson’s running mate would provide the Falcons with a cheap reserve, which is undoubtedly necessary with how hard the NFL is on a running back’s body.
Day 3 picks are always fun to project but rarely turn into Tyler Allgeier. Everyone should temper the expectations.
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Photographer: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire
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