Falcons currently in line for 5th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft

Late last week, we wrote that the Chargers winning on Thursday Night Football had moved the Falcons from 7th to 6th in the 2021 NFL Draft order. With a loss to the Buccaneers and a Dallas win, Atlanta has scampered up another spot and is currently slated to pick 5th with two games left to go.

Given that both those games figure to be difficult, the Falcons seem likely to retain that top five pick. Realistically, two losses and a win from the Panthers at some point in the last two weeks would get the Falcons as high as #4, which is probably their ceiling unless the Bengals dig really, really deep and win both of their final two games. Anything can happen, I suppose, but the chances of Atlanta walking out of the miserable 2020 season with a top 5 selection seem quite high.

As we’ve discussed repeatedly, this is an opportunity for the Falcons to get a quarterback of the future, select an impact defender, or trade down and pick up a bounty of picks they can use in their rebuilding efforts. The beauty of a top selection in a quality class is how many options it gives you, and with a new front office on the way, those options will be welcome.

We’ll see where the Falcons finish up, but hopefully it gives them the opportunity to swiftly turn things around after three lousy years in a row.