NFL Draft Odds: Who are the Falcons most likely to draft?

With essentially no glaring holes on the roster, the Falcons will approach this month’s draft with a best player available strategy.

Terry Fontenot has done an admirable job filling out the depth chart, allowing him to be flexible at the 8th overall pick. And if there’s a run on quarterbacks, an elite prospect could fall right in Atlanta’s lap.

Jalen Carter is the name that comes to most fans’ minds, given the common allegiances to their hometown Georgia Bulldogs. But you don’t have to be a Georgia fan to see the talent Carter possesses; he’s arguably the best player in this class. Still, the likelihood the Falcons will draft him is slim.

In fact, there are a bevy of other players with better odds to be Atlanta’s first-round pick, with the most likely being Bijan Robinson, followed by Nolan Smith, Christian Gonzalez, CJ Stroud, Lukas Van Ness, and Devon Witherspoon. FanDuel’s odds on the Falcons selection:

• Bijan Robinson +250
• Nolan Smith +550
• Christian Gonzalez +650
• CJ Stroud +650
• Lukas Van Ness +900
• Devon Witherspoon +1000
• Jalen Carter +1100

Betting odds change practically every day, but these seem to be holding firm. What’s especially intriguing is Bijan Robinson. The position isn’t a need for Atlanta, but Terry Fontenot remains adamant the club will draft by BPA, which very well could be the Texas product. I’ve said it before, but Robinson would legitimately be in the conversation for the 1st overall pick in a different era.

Unsurprisingly, most of the others on this list are defensive players, particularly along the line of scrimmage. The Falcons have not spent a first-round pick on a defensive lineman since Vic Beasley, something that could change tomorrow. Of the more realistic options, Tyree Wilson would be my favorite over Lukas Van Ness and Nolan Smith, but I could talk myself into any of these players.

The Falcons stand to benefit from a run on quarterbacks to land a premier prospect, but even if they don’t, they’ll get a pretty damn good one regardless.

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Photographer: Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire