On Wednesday’s “Draft Eve” episode of The Falcoholic Live, the crew conducted our final live mock draft for the Falcons. Using the mock draft simulator over at The Draft Network, we took a swing at jointly selecting a class for Atlanta. With the combined powers of myself, Eric Robinson, and Will McFadden, we came away with a unique scenario that I think you will all enjoy.
Remember to join us for our live draft coverage tonight at 7:30 PM ET on YouTube! We’ll also be back for the final two days of the draft, starting at 7:00 PM ET on Friday and 12:00 PM ET on Saturday.
You can find the full picks from the mock below, as well as the video from last night’s episode. The mock draft begins at 50:00, but you should also check out the beginning of the show for our in-depth discussion of the recent trade rumors involving star WR Julio Jones.
Round 1, Pick 4: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Not much explanation needed here. We’ve traded down and taken QBs at this spot in previous mocks, so we wanted to do a “win now” scenario with Kyle Pitts at the top. Pitts is arguably the most dynamic and talented player in the class, and would give Matt Ryan an elite tight end to complement an already stacked room of weapons.
TRADE — Round 2, Pick 47: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami
Falcons trade pick 35 and pick 219 (6th) to the Chargers for picks 47 (2nd) and 97 (3rd).
With several first round talents falling to 35, the Falcons received multiple offers to trade down. The Chargers made the most compelling deal, with Atlanta moving down 12 spots in exchange for Los Angeles’ compensatory 3rd. We also gave up 219 to—mercifully—make the mock shorter. The team takes a calculated risk with Miami’s Gregory Rousseau here, who has perhaps the highest ceiling of any pass rusher in the class but also a ton of question marks.
Round 3, Pick 68: C/G Quinn Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater
The Falcons luck out with Quinn Meinerz falling to 68, a Division III prospect with a sky-high ceiling on the interior. He may need a season to adjust to the NFL, but he’s got a tremendous frame and exceptional athleticism along with a nasty demeanor as a competitor and blocker.
Round 3, Pick 97: S Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State
Pick acquired from the Chargers.
With the extra pick from the Chargers, the Falcons target a falling talent at safety in FSU’s Hamsah Nasirildeen. One of the most intriguing athletes in the draft, Nasirildeen is a perfect chess piece for Dean Pees’ defense who can line up in a variety of roles.
Round 4, Pick 108: RB Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
The Falcons miss out on the top RBs in the class by waiting until Day 3 to address the position, but there are still several quality contributors left on the board. Virginia Tech’s Khalil Herbert is an underrated player with solid athleticism and terrific vision who can take over the RB2 role behind Mike Davis with the potential for more in future years.
Round 5, Pick 148: EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo, Vanderbilt
Atlanta already added Rousseau early in the draft, but the value of Vanderbilt’s Dayo Odeyingbo was simply too good to pass up here. Odeyingbo is one of the most versatile EDGE players in the class and is capable of lining up at any position on the defensive line due to his size and athleticism. He may not be ready early in the season due to an injury he suffered in 2020, but Odeyingbo is a potential long-term contributor.
Round 5, Pick 182: DT Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M
The Falcons brought back Tyeler Davison at a reduced salary for 2021, but will need a more traditional 3-4 NT for future years. Texas A&M’s Bobby Brown III is one of the top NT prospects in the class, with a huge frame and flashes of dominant play against the run. He needs to continue bulking up and working on his strength and conditioning, but Brown could be a steal this late in the draft.
Round 5, Pick 183: CB Shakur Brown, Michigan State
CB was unfortunately the position that got missed in this year’s draft class, but we were still able to add a high-upside prospect in Michigan State’s Shakur Brown with the final pick of the 5th round. Brown has very limited tape, but flashed whenever he was on the field.
Round 6, Pick 187: WR Jaelon Darden, North Texas
The WR position is perhaps the deepest of any in this class, and the Falcons would be foolish to leave the draft without adding one. North Texas’ Jaelon Darden has good speed and elite agility, but is limited to a slot role because of his size. He’s got high upside as a yards-after-catch threat and punt returner, and could be a potential Russell Gage replacement in 2022.