Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Atlanta Falcons land massive steal who is a perfect Zac Robinson scheme fit to develop into a future NFL starter

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ryan Roberts | Last updated May 1, 2025 6:07 PM ET

There is a lot of excitement around the Atlanta Falcons heading into the 2025 NFL season. For the first time in a very long time, the organization has a young quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. that the staff is very excited about. While the defense still has a lot of question marks to answer, the offense is generating a ton of hype right now.

Penix, along with the skill position talent such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, will get a lot of the headlines this season. The offense is also built on a very strong offensive line, which includes the ultra-consistent Jake Matthews, and All-Pro Chris Lindstrom. As is typically the case, a team can never have enough talent in their offensive line room.

Of the five total selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, four of them went to the defensive side of the football. The only offensive selection did go to the offensive line, where the team selected former Wisconsin offensive tackle Jack Nelson. The Falcons were, as a whole, very active in the undrafted free agency pool.

One extremely interesting addition did come on the offensive line, where Atlanta signed former Oregon State standout Joshua Gray. The 6-4, 299-pound lineman spent a lot of time at left tackle during his Oregon State career, but finally shifted inside to guard during his final season in 2024. Gray's combination of athleticism, experience, and heavy hands make him a very interesting fit on the interior long term.

Been hoping Oregon State would move OL Joshua Gray (LG #67) inside for awhile. Was always out of place at offensive tackle, but has starter traits inside on the next level. pic.twitter.com/KJmrZKv6ke
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) September 16, 2024

Gray ended up falling out of the first round due to some medical question marks. When available, there is a ton to like. His game is built very well for a heavy zone team that prioritizes movement skills. The major drawback to Gray's game is his overall core strength, which could make him an ideal fit inside into the center position long term.

As of today, Gray is listed as an offensive guard on an early depth chart, but that could change pretty quickly. Ryan Neuzil is listed as the team's starting center heading into 2025, but his contract does expire after the season ends. There is a chance, if Gray can land a spot on the roster, that he could contend for a bigger spot in the 2026 season. We will see how things work out, but Gray feels like an ideal fit into Taylor's offense, and could be a massive steal.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: