The ultimate judgment of the Falcons’ 2024 NFL Draft class hinges on one player: Michael Penix Jr. If the rookie quarterback becomes the franchise’s cornerstone, the class will be hailed as a success. However, Penix’s potential should not overshadow the lack of impact from the rest of the group in their rookie season.
A Quiet Year for The Falcons Rookie Class
The Falcons can’t be faulted for the absence of third-round pick Bralen Trice, who was lost for the season during the preseason. But beyond that, it’s been a disappointing showing.
- Ruke Orhorhoro (2nd Round): Atlanta traded up to select the defensive lineman, but he’s appeared in just six games, recording seven tackles.
- Brandon Dorlus (4th Round): The pass rusher has been inactive for most of the season.
- JD Bertrand (5th Round): Injuries to the Falcons’ linebacker corps have given him opportunities, but his performances haven’t been noteworthy.
For a Falcons team that entered the season hoping to snap a six-year playoff drought, the lack of contributions from its rookie class is concerning.
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Falcons head coach Raheem Morris offered a different perspective on the rookies’ limited roles:
“I know it was much maligned, but that was really the sign of a good football team,” Morris said, via Daniel Flick of Sports Illustrated.
While Morris’s spin attempts to frame the rookies’ inactivity as a byproduct of a deep roster, the argument will fall flat with fans if the Falcons fail to make the playoffs.
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Atlanta devoted much of its draft capital to addressing the pass rush—a glaring weakness for over a decade. Despite this investment, the 2024 rookie class has yet to record a single sack. The struggles are compounded by the fact that the veterans ahead of them aren’t setting the world on fire either.
The Falcons rank last in the NFL with just 26 sacks through 14 games. While there’s been notable improvement since the bye week—16 sacks over the past four games, the most in the league—the pass rush remains a long-term concern.
Terry Fontenot, Raheem Morris, and the Falcons’ front office are banking on Penix’s success to validate their draft decisions. While the quarterback’s development is the most critical storyline, the rest of the draft class has done little to inspire confidence in the team’s ability to evaluate and develop talent.
The 2024 season isn’t over yet, and the Falcons’ playoff hopes are still alive. But without contributions from the rest of their rookies, Atlanta’s decision-makers should face even more scrutiny in the offseason.
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Photographer: John Byrum/Icon Sportswire
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