Piece by: Alex Christ
With the conclusion of the NFL’s 86th annual draft selection meeting, it is time to review each team’s draft picks and analyze how these players could make an impact in their rookie season or take a few years to develop their skills in the NFL.
We will start with the NFC South division as the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, and Saints head into new futures for their franchises with unexpected changes during this offseason.
With the retirement of Drew Brees in New Orleans and Tom Brady’s sudden turnaround in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers look to repeat their success from last year despite not winning the NFC South division (last division title was in 2007). But, as the Panthers and Falcons look to rebuild their franchises under new management with Scott Fitterer as well as Terry Fontenot as first time general managers, could Matt Rhule or Arthur Smith lead their teams to a winning record in 2021 after Carolina and Atlanta lost at least 10 games last season?
The first team in the NFC South we will analyze will be… the Atlanta Falcons!
Terry Fontenot’s/Atlanta Falcons 2021 NFL Draft Grades/Analysis:
Day 1:
4th overall pick (1st round): Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida. This was a move that surprised me at first after hearing rumors that Atlanta was listening to trade offers for the 4th pick in the draft. If there were no teams interested, I believe this was a great pick despite a huge need on several defensive positions, which could have happened if the Falcons traded back.
After winning the John Mackey Award (given to the best tight end in the NCAA) last season, Kyle Pitts will be joining the Falcons after Calvin Ridley stepped up last year with his first 1,000-yard season of his career while Julio Jones started only nine games due to injuries.
With all three receivers above six feet tall in height, Atlanta has the chance to have one of the NFL’s scariest receiving trios entering the 2021 NFL season, which will create matchup nightmares for opposing defenses across the league.
Alex Christ’s Draft Grade: A
*NFL Draft History Note: Kyle Pitts holds the record for being the highest tight end selected in the NFL draft, but this is not the first time that Atlanta has selected a tight end within the first 10 picks of the draft. In 1980, the Falcons selected two-time Pro Bowl tight end Junior Miller from Nebraska with the 7th overall pick, who led all rookie receivers with nine receiving TD’s in his first season.
Day 2:
40th overall pick (2nd round, trade with Denver): Richie Grant, S, UCF. After giving up the most passing yards of any defense in the NFL last year, the Falcons had to address their secondary issues and Richie Grant is a perfect start to fixing Atlanta’s defensive woes.
A three-time first-team All-AAC selection at Central Florida, Grant led the Knights in tackles in 2018 as well as 2020 and grabbed ten interceptions (6 Int’s in 2018) in his four years at UCF. Carrying on a family legacy after his uncle, Terry, played with Nick Saban at the University of Alabama, Richie Grant has the ability to become one of the NFL’s best young safeties in the league.
With the offseason additions of Erik Harris from the Raiders along with Duron Harmon from Detroit and Fabian Moreau from Washington, Atlanta’s secondary unit should improve under new defensive coordinator Dean Pees and Richie Grant could benefit greatly from the playoff experiences of Harmon as well as Pees with five Super Bowl rings combined in their careers.
Alex Christ’s Draft Grade: B+
*NFL Draft History Note: Richie Grant is the first UCF defensive back to be drafted in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft since Travis Fisher was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the 64th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.
68th overall pick (3rd round): Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan. With Arthur Smith inheriting a young offensive line led by Pro Bowl tackle Jake Matthews, Terry Fontenot used Atlanta’s 3rd round pick to add additional depth on their offensive line with their selection of Jalen Mayfield.
After starting all 13 games as a sophomore in 2019, Mayfield received an All-Big Ten honorable mention, but only appeared in 18 games at Michigan in his three years with the Wolverines. But, Jalen Mayfield also carries a family legacy as well with his father, Brian, as a two-time MIFC champion at Division II Ferris State in the early 1990’s.
With the NFL’s new preseason schedule limited to only three games, Mayfield will have to prove his versatility as an offensive lineman if he is going to make the Falcons 53-man roster out of training camp this offseason.
Alex Christ’s Draft Grade: C
*NFL Draft History Note: Jalen Mayfield isn’t the only Falcons offensive lineman to be drafted from the University of Michigan. In the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft, Atlanta selected two-time All-Pro left tackle Mike Kenn with the 13th overall pick, who would also be selected to five straight Pro Bowls from 1980-1984.
Day 3:
108th overall pick (4th round): Darren Hall, CB, San Diego State. After drafting safety Richie Grant in the 2nd round, Terry Fontenot decided to add another piece to his developing secondary unit in cornerback Darren Hall from San Diego State with their 4th round pick.
A first team All-Mountain West selection in 2020, Hall led the Aztecs with three interceptions while mentoring San Diego’s young secondary unit after leading the NCAA with 16 pass deflections as a sophomore in 2019.
With all of the offseason additions to Atlanta’s secondary unit, Darren Hall will have to prove that he deserves a chance to be in the Falcons cornerback rotation along with A.J. Terrell, Isaiah Oliver, and Kendall Sheffield during the regular season.
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