The Falcons have an impressive amount of their own draft picks still on the roster

The Falcons shook up their fan base last night, snatching up two offensive linemen after a free agency period that seemingly addressed the exact same need. The reactions were mixed, but in short, they took an underwhelming approach to the first night of the draft.

For what it’s worth, the Falcons have done a fine job retaining and utilizing their own draft picks in recent years. In fact, going into the draft last night, the Falcons ranked third in that category.

What this says about the Falcons brass is up for debate. But the fact that the Falcons had more of their draft picks on their current roster than the Packers, a team traditionally heralded for building through the draft, impresses me. While there are draft picks on the roster the Falcons arguably should’ve move on from, there’s no debating the front office’s commitment to filling out the roster with their guys.

The Falcons may find a way back into the second or (more likely) third rounds this evening. If you’re still reeling after last night’s shenanigans, take solace in the fact that the Falcons have a fairly good track record of building from within. We may not understand all this madness right now, but there’s undoubtedly a method underlying it.