If nothing else, the Falcons definitely addressed their offensive line issues in the 2019 NFL draft. They also hit their need for more depth at cornerback and a couple of other positions.
There are a lot of questions about this group, though. Here’s one for each pick in this year’s draft class.
1. Did the Falcons get enough value with their first pick?
There’s no question that the Falcons got the best guard in the class when they picked Chris Lindstrom at No. 14 overall. It is worth asking if they could have gotten better value with the pick, though. Guards usually don’t get picked at all until late in the first round or early in the second. It might have been a better idea to take the best offensive tackle on the board (Washington State’s Andre Dillard) at 14 and then wait to pick up Lindstrom after trading up to No. 31. We’ll never know.
2. Will Kaleb McGary’s technique get him into trouble?
Speaking of the No. 31 pick, Atlanta gave up a lot of draft capital to get McGary at that spot, surrendering both of their Day 2 picks to the Rams. At the very least, McGary should offer a significant upgrade over what Ryan Schraeder was at right tackle last season. The question with him is if his unconventional technique will get him into trouble at the next level and how much coaching up he’s going to need.
3. Can Kendall Sheffield develop into a nickel corner?
Thanks to the trade with LA, Atlanta had to wait until Day 3 to pick again. The Falcons moved up to get Sheffield at No. 111 overall. Here the question is where the team sees Sheffield playing in the long term. To start out, he’ll probably back up wither Desmond Trufant or Isaiah Oliver on the outside. However, the team may need him to develop into a top-notch nickel corner if they have to move Damontae Kazee to another spot in the future. If he can do that much, then he’ll definitely be worth the pick.
4. Can John Cominsky make an impact right away?
Perhaps the best selection in the draft for the Falcons this year came when they moved up two spots in round four, leap-frogging the Cowboys to land one of this year’s top sleepers in Cominsky. His athleticism and performance at the Senior Bowl indicate his ceiling could be very high indeed. However, Atlanta has some serious shortcomings at this position and they may need Cominsky to step up into a big role sooner rather than later. If Cominsky can make an impact right away, it would be a huge deal for the defense.
5. Is Qadree Ollison the team’s new fullback?
Running back wasn’t a huge need for the Falcons, but it wasn’t surprising to see them take one in the fifth round. Ollison is a traditional power back kind of player who can run between the tackles and bulldoze over defenders. Atlanta’s backfield picture is pretty crowded though and Ollison has previous experience playing fullback. That might be where he’s best suited to play at the next level, potentially replacing Ricky Ortiz.
6. Does Jordan Miller have time to develop?
By now, you probably know the Falcons love Washington’s long, lanky press cornerbacks, like Desmond Trufant, who is still the team’s top cover corner despite having a rough 2018 season. Like most rookie defensive backs coming into the league, Miller is a bit raw. The question is how much time he’ll have to develop his game. If he’s thrust into a starting role due to injuries, it could be a bit of a problem.
7. Is Marcus Green more than just a returner?
Finally, the Falcons used their last draft pick on Green, who they had listed as a running back. Apparently that was only about not trying to scare off some UDFA wide receivers. Thomas Dimitroff says the team sees him as a receiver, but his first role will likely be as the return specialist. If Green can develop into a gadget weapon on offense as well, then this pick is going to turn out to be a legitimate late-round steal.
