Over the last three years, the Atlanta Falcons haven’t been shy about drafting offensive skill-position players in the first round. Even with Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson in place, it’s hard to rule out the team drafting another weapon in 2024.
The quarterback position has to be priority No. 1 for the Falcons, but there is no guarantee they will take one in the draft. Bears QB Justin Fields is expected to be traded this offseason and Atlanta is currently the betting favorite to be his next team.
In our final seven-round mock draft ahead of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, we have the Falcons trading for Fields and adding another playmaker in the first round.
Round 1, Pick 8: WR Rome Odunze - Washington
Odunze was a key part of Washington’s run to the National Championship game. He finished the 2023 season with 92 catches for 1,639 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. The Huskies wideout only dropped three passes all season and was one of the best in the country at making contested catches. Behind Drake London, the Falcons don’t have much clarity at wide receiver. Odunze, London, Pitts and Robinson would be a truly dynamic group.
Round 2, Pick 43: EDGE Chop Robinson - Penn State
Robinson could instantly replace free agent Bud Dupree in the outside linebacker rotation and would be a good long-term option to pair with Arnold Ebiketie. The Penn State edge rusher finished the 2023 season with a Pro Football Focus grade of 90.8 and a pass-rushing grade of 92.3. Robinson has 52 hurries and eight sacks over the last two seasons. The sack numbers don’t jump out but he can get after the QB and is solid against the run.
TRADE: Falcons acquire QB Justin Fields from Bears
Falcons acquire:
- QB Justin Fields
Bears acquire:
- QB Desmond Ridder
- 3rd-round pick (2024)
- 3rd-round pick (2025)
Round 3, Pick 79: DL T'Vondre Sweat - Texas
With the Falcons officially set to run a 3-4 base under defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, Sweat would give the team a quality nose tackle to work with. The 6-foot-4, 362-pound lineman has the kind of size that this roster currently lacks on the interior. Sweat is dominant against the run and tough to stop as a pass rusher.
Round 4, Pick 110: CB Max Melton - Rutgers
Melton could provide some much-needed depth at cornerback as the Falcons figure out what to do with Jeff Okudah and A.J. Terrell. The Rutgers defensive back has racked up eight interceptions over the last three seasons. He played primarily on the outside at Maryland but he has decent versatility and play-making ability.
Round 5, Pick 142: TE Ben Sinnott - Kansas State
While the tight end position wasn’t high on our list of needs, the value here was too good for Atlanta to pass up. Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott is a solid all-around player. He can block, he can catch, and he gets open. Sinnott finished the 2023 season with 48 catches for 669 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Round 6, Pick 189: RB Cody Schrader - Missouri
Schrader had a wildly productive 2023 campaign at Missouri, rushing for 1,611 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Falcons have two quality backs in Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson, but with Cordarrelle Patterson’s future up in the air, Schrader makes sense here in the sixth round.
Round 6, Pick 201: DL Zion Logue - Georgia
Round 7, Pick 241: Taulia Tagovailoa - Maryland
Since we traded Desmond Ridder away in the trade for Justin Fields, we thought we’d grab Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa here in the seventh round. The younger brother of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, Taulia Tagovailoa passed for 3,386 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for the Terrapins last season.
Mock Draft Recap/PFF Draft Grade
