The first draft class of Terry Fontenot’s tenure is one he would probably like to forget.
Of the nine players he selected, only two of them are currently consistent contributors — Drew Dalman and Kyle Pitts — and Pitts, who was the fourth overall pick in the draft, might not even get a second contract. Given some of the talent that was taken right after him — Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, Micah Parsons, Patrick Surtain II, etc. — that could look really bad if he doesn’t produce at a higher rate over the next couple of seasons.
The Falcons second-round pick in 2021, Richie Grant, looks to have lost his job to a rookie, while three other players are no longer even with the organization after less than three full seasons, including third-round selection Jalen Mayfield. It was absolutely gross, but the 2022 class has some rising stars, headlined by Drake London, Tyler Allgeier, and Arnold Ebiketie, and the 2023 draft class looks like it could be one of the best the Falcons have had in quite some time.
Fontenot’s decision to go with Bijan Robinson 8th overall was met with widespread criticism. In hindsight, the Falcons probably should have gone with Jalen Carter, but nobody can argue with just how electric Robinson is at the running back position. He looks like he is going to be elite in this league for quite a long time if he can stay healthy. But it’s the talent Fontenot was able to find in the later rounds that really has this year’s draft class looking special, especially given the Falcons only made six picks.
Atlanta spent their second round selection on Matthew Bergeron, who has immediately stepped in as the team’s starting left guard. Like most rookies, there have been some inconsistencies, but it really looks like he and Chris Lindstrom are going to form one of the league’s most menacing guard duos for years to come.
With their third pick, Fontenot went with Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison. The Buckeyes have become infamous for sending top edge rushes to the NFL, and while Harrison wasn’t nearly as productive as some of the players that came before him, he’s blossomed into an integral piece of the Falcons defense as a rookie. Harrison recorded his first career sack two weeks ago against the Panthers and then followed it up with two more sacks this past Sunday against the Colts.
The Falcons then spent a fourth-round pick on an undersized corner out of Utah in Clark Phillips. Phillips was used minimally defensively through the first ten weeks of the season, but he was thrust into action against the Cardinals a few weeks ago and has now unseated Jeff Okudah as the team’s starting corner opposite A.J. Terrell.
But perhaps the biggest steal of them all came in the seventh-round when the Falcons took safety DeMarcco Hellams out of Alabama. Hellams earned a spot on the roster behind a strong preseason, and now he finds himself starting over 2021 second-round pick Richie Grant. That’s quite an indictment of Grant’s play, who is following in the footsteps of most of the other members of the Falcons 2021 draft class, but in the same breath, Fontenot might have made up for that misstep with a home run in the last round of the draft this year.
It’s going to take a lot more than one draft class for Terry Fontenot to be referred to as a draft wizard, but the early results are extremely encouraging. If this becomes commonplace in Atlanta, the Falcons are going to be a problem for a long time. Fontenot has already shown a knack for being incredible when it comes to evaluating pro personnel. He’s hit a home run on nearly every free agent signing since taking over the job.
However, the key to sustained success is building through the draft. Terry Fontenot’s first class left a lot to be desired, but the improvements year over year could be a sign that adjustments in the process have been made and are netting better results. If that continues, it won’t take long before the Falcons are a force to be reckoned with.
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Photo: Photographer: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire
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