Expert thinks Falcons will draft a QB in the first round

Leave a Comment / Falcons, NFL Draft / By /
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 02 Boise State Broncos at Washington

The Falcons were considered a wild card in the NFL Draft at the beginning of the offseason.

There was a glaring need for a quarterback, but Terry Fontenot has a strict M.O. of taking the best player available. A lot of that speculation was quashed when Kirk Cousins signed a $180 million deal to come to Atlanta.

It’s paved the way for Fontenot to take the best player available, or maybe the best player that fills a need on the roster. Dallas Turner has been the most popular prospect going No. 8 in mock drafts, and the consensus carries beyond just fictitious mocks.

Vegas also thinks it’s going to be Dallas Turner — Odds via DraftKings as of 4/10:

  • Dallas Turner +150
  • Laiatu Latu +600
  • Jared Verse +750
  • Quinyon Mitchell +750
  • Rome Odunze +850
  • J.J. McCarthy +1300

An anonymous NFC executive also told ESPN’s Jordan Reid that “Anyone with a pulse that can rush the passer” is a possible Falcons draft target in the first round. Even though fans can never agree on anything, most Falcons fans believe it’ll be a pass rusher or at least a defender of some sort.

There is one brave soul, though. Brian Baldinger isn’t some hot take artist like Skip Bayless, who recently gave his vote of confidence in Baker Mayfield over Kirk Cousins, which should be seen as a good thing for the Falcons.

Baldinger is well respected in the industry, and he had quite the opinion on Atlanta’s draft plans — quarterback. The former NFL offensive lineman took to Twitter to say that he believes the Falcons will take a signal caller in the first round.

I would put the chances of the Falcons taking a quarterback at as close to 0 without actually saying it’s impossible.

Kirk Cousins didn’t sign with Atlanta to help groom his successor, but that’s besides the biggest reason why the Falcons won’t take a quarterback at No. 8; there won’t be one available worth taking at the pick.

Michael Penix and Bo Nix will likely be the only prospects still on the board when Atlanta is on the clock, and if Fontenot took one of them, the fan base may tear down Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Falcons signaled to the rest of the league they want to compete. Why else give Cousins $180 million? There’s a chance they take a flier on Day 2 or Day 3 but in the first round? That’s quite the hot take.

—

Photographer: Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire

Scroll to Top
%d bloggers like this: