Falcons GM addresses upcoming NFL Draft, the 'most uncertain' of his tenure
If you have no clue what's going to happen during the upcoming NFL Draft, you aren't alone. Neither does Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot.
In a predraft news conference, Fontenot admitted that the 2023 NFL Draft is shaping up to be the most unpredictable of his tenure. NFL insider Ian Rapoport corroborated Fontenot's stance.
Fontenot joined Atlanta as GM in 2021 after spending 18 seasons in the Saints front office. The Falcons have the No. 8 pick in this year's draft, and the front office has gone through multiple scenarios in its mock drafts.
To illustrate what little consensus there is among this year's top picks, Pro Football Focus' latest mock draft has four QBs — Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis — drafted with the first four picks. The 33rd Team's newest mock only has two QBs (Young, Stroud) going within the top 11 picks.
In February, Fontenot said the team "could definitely" draft a QB, but unless one of the top prospects is available at No. 8, the Falcons are expected to go after a cornerback or edge-rusher. Per OddsChecker, the most likely position of the team's first-round pick is at the defensive line (-112).
Something else to consider is Atlanta drafting running back Bijan Robinson. OddsChecker lists running back (+225) as the second-most likely position for the Falcons to draft.
Second-year pro Tyler Allgeier doesn't make the position a need, but if the organization is drafting the best available player on its big board at No. 8, it's in the realm of possibility that Robinson would be that guy.
A lot of things are possible for Atlanta, at least for a little while longer. We'll get answers, as will the Falcons, on Thursday night.
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