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Few predictions prove to be as hilariously inaccurate every year as who will be on the practice squad, but hell, it’s fun to think about who the team will want to develop. A couple of these guys generally make it to the roster at some point, after all.
In 2016, Sharrod Neasman and D.J. Tialavea both wound up on the active roster before season’s end, and both were minor contributors for the eventual NFC Champion Falcons. In addition, Deji Olatoye came up and played pretty well in his limited looks, Joe Vellano joined the team in mid-January, and Nick Williams got into two games and reeled in five receptions. That’s five dudes from the 10 man practice squad who didn’t stay there all year in 2016, though it’s worth noting the practice squad changes quite frequently during the season.
Here’s my best guess here in early May:
QB Alek Torgersen
WR Josh Magee
WR Garrett Scantling
TE D.J. Tialavea
G/T Robert Leff
T/G Daniel Brunskill
DE/LB Darius English
LB Jermaine Grace
CB Taylor Reynolds
S Deron Washington
This grouping gives you a third quarterback to develop, plus a couple of speedy, intriguing projects at wide receiver who also could compete for returner gigs in 2018. Scantling’s obviously #elite speed and athleticism should earn him a longer look, even if he’s going to have a pretty steep learning curve in the NFL. This list also puts one of your better blocking tight ends on the practice squad in case you need him. It takes two undersized but intriguing offensive linemen and gives them a year to bulk up and marinate. And it puts an interesting young pass rusher, speedy linebacker, and a couple of promising defensive backs on your squad for later.
There are omissions here—no fourth running back and only one defensive lineman may prove to be unlikely—but I like the ten players here, and I think all of them have a reasonable shot to hit the practice squad. In case you’re curious, I do have Andreas Knappe making the roster, and I think Tyler Renew has a decent shot at winning the fullback gig.
Give us your practice squad!