Is Falcons' draft class underrated?
Although not everyone is sold on the Falcons' recent draft class, few teams fared better than Atlanta with their early selections.
GM Terry Fontenot drafted three or more potential starters - impressive when considering he traded a few 2023 picks away.
R1: Pick 8 Bijan Robinson, RB (Texas)
Robinson put up monster stats at Texas. You'll rarely find criticisms of his talent - just gripes regarding his 'positional value'. Robinson is the highest drafted running back since Saquon Barkley, who went second overall in 2018.
His new head coach, Arthur Smith, outlined what makes him special.
In a draft of outliers and uncertainty, Robinson is a rare player who doesn't require much projection.
R2: Pick 38 Matthew Bergeron, OL (Syracuse)
Atlanta traded up with the Colts to snag the Syracuse offensive lineman, who played left and right tackle in college. Bergeron is a better on-field athlete than his athletic testing indicates. He was a standout during the field drills at the NFL combine.
Bergeron should be highly impactful in Arthur Smith's run-first offense. The Cowboys debated taking Bergeron with their first-round pick.
R3: Pick 75 Zach Harrison, DE (Ohio State)
Harrison didn't produce at the levels of fellow Ohio State pass alumni Chase Young or the Bosa brothers.
He is a heavy-handed defensive end with extremely long arms (36 1/4"). He has size and upside often found earlier in the draft. Harrison should help in run defense right away while developing as a pass rusher.
R4: Pick 113 Clark Phillips III, CB (Utah)
The Utah corner was consistently productive in college. He had nine career interceptions, returning four for touchdowns.
Phillips III fell due to lack of size (5'9, 184) and his 40-yard dash (4.51).
He joins a revamped secondary that recently added safety Jessie Bates III and cornerback Jeff Okudah, joining star cornerback A.J. Terrell and safety Richie Grant.
The Falcons added depth pieces in the seventh round in safety DeMarcco Hellams (Alabama) and offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn (South Carolina). While still rebuilding - signs show their future is very bright and their 2023 draft class may be better than its currently being given credit for.
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