One of the hottest debates among Falcons fans and league experts has been what the team should do with the fourth-overall selection in the 2021 draft. Despite the quarterback position not being high on Atlanta’s list of needs, new Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot kept the possibility alive during his introductory press conference on Tuesday.
“We never want to reach for needs, we want to stack the board, and we want to be consistent,” stated the new GM. ” It’s never a bad thing to add to a strength, you want to get good football players.”
Fontenot referenced Ozzie Newsome, the general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, as an example of where instead of reaching to address a specific hole on the roster, he would take the best player available. Sometimes Newsome’s picks would end up as Hall of Famers.
Fontenot knows it’s just as important for the team to find players in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, along with undrafted free agents to create sustainable success. The Falcons have holes at the cornerback, running back and defensive end, but selecting any of these positions with the No. 4 pick would be considered a reach in this year’s draft class.
Another possibility would be to trade back and accumulate more picks. Atlanta has just 42 players on roster (11 are reserve players), so by trading down, the team could add depth at a cheaper price point than in free agency. Fontenot certainly has his work cut out for him this offseason.
