The most unique draft in NFL history is in the books, and as always it’s time to discuss the braintrust of Dimitroff and Quinn doing things few people predicted heading into the draft.
Here were some of the perceived draft needs and where the Falcons seemed likely to take each position.
Cornerback (Rounds 1-2)
Defensive Tackle (Rounds 1-2)
Linebacker (Rounds 2-4)
Center/Guard (Rounds 3-4)
Running Back (Best player available in Rounds 4-7)
Safety (Best player available in Rounds 4-7)
The last several Atlanta drafts have been extremely unpredictable. They shocked everyone in 2016 by taking safety Keanu Neal at No. 17 and Deion Jones at No. 52, and took Calvin Ridley at No. 26 in 2018 when the entire world had them taking a defensive tackle. They followed that up by taking Chris Lidstrom surprisingly high at No. 16 in 2019, then trading back in to the first round to select a tackle most had with a second round grade. So, of course, they started this draft by taking a DB most had slotted in the second round.
A.J. Terrell, CB
Terrell was IMMEDIATELY dubbed a reach at #16 after the Falcons were unable to trade up for C.J. Henderson or Javon Kinlaw. The first-team All-ACC corner has the prototype physical profile Atlanta likes in outside corners with a 6' 1" frame and long 31 1/4" arms. He's experienced and proficient in both zone and press man making him a good fit for the Falcons cover 3 scheme. Thomas Dimitroff has already said the Falcons plan to slot him in at starting outside CB on day one.
The LSU game will be hard for people to forget, but for those concerned about his performance against J'Marr Chase, it's worth noting that C.J. Henderson also gave up two TD to arguably the best receiver in the country. Some have also raised concerns about his tackling based on his tendency to duck his head and throw his shoulder into ball carriers, which resulted in the occasional highlight but also a number of missed tackles.
While there is near universal agreement on the need and fit for the Falcons, debates have raged over his value. ESPN and NFL Network both had him with second round grades, while Sport Illustrated, CBS Sports, and The Athletic had him slotted between picks 19-23. According to www.grindingthemocks.com (a site that aggregates mock draft rankings) his average draft position was 23.5, making him a slight reach but FAR less egregious than has been advertised.
What's clear is that the Falcons could not have gotten him at No. 47, and the rumblings are that the Raiders planned on snatching him at No. 19 (they took Ohio State CB Damon Arnette instead). The Saints were also said to be eyeing him at No. 24. This is why the Falcons reportedly rejected an offer from the Philadelphia Eagles to trade down, fearing the Raiders would grab Terrell before the Eagles pick at No. 21.
From the Falcons perspective, Terrell provided the best mix of value and need at No. 16 and gives them a long-term answer to replace Desmond Trufant.
Marlon Davidson, DE
The Falcons needed depth at DE and additional playmaking at DT, so they opted for a player that may be able to provide both.
Marlon Davidson is a four-year starter that peaked as a first-team All-SEC selection as a senior. He's more solid than spectacular, but his pass rushing production improved tremendously in 2019 and he led Auburn in tackles for loss while playing alongside All-American DT Derrick Brown. At 303 pounds it's stating the obvious to say he lacks the body of a typical NFL defensive end, and his 5.04 40-yard dash time indicates less-than-adequate explosiveness for an outside rusher. But Davidson has a well-built frame that should allow him to kick inside and be a disruptive three-technique alongside Grady Jarrett. He has already said he is open to playing anywhere along the defensive front as long as it helps the team win.
Davidson lacks the raw upside of a player like Javon Kinlaw, but has been universally praised for his work ethic and character and represents a low-risk investment on the defensive front. This pick is a good mixture of need and value for the Falcons and has been universally praised by both fans and gurus alike.
Matt Hennessy, C
The Falcons selected the heir apparent to Alex Mack in Matt Hennessy. His addition allows Matt Gono to move back to natural position at tackle where he'll likely be the swing player, and will allow the Falcons to part ways with Sean Harlow or James Carpenter. This a significant upgrade to the line of scrimmage and a solid value as well.
Hennessy is noted for his quick feet and technical proficiency, although scouts say he lacks elite play strength. He's a strong double-teamer that is uniquely well-suited for a zone blocking scheme which is why the Falcons valued him over LSU interior lineman Lloyd Cushenberry, III. Hennessy provides immediate quality depth on the interior and hopefully can slot in to stabilize left guard in 2020.
Mykal Walker, LB
Mykal Walker is a super-productive and versatile LB with the athletic profile to play outside for the Falcons. The first-team All-Mountain West linebacker is a reliable tackler who was used in an attacking scheme that involved a lot of highlight-worthy interior blitzing. Walker also played significant reps as a stand-up edge rusher, something he's less likely to do with the Falcons, but still a good skill to have in the toolbox. He'll likely have a lot more coverage responsibilities in Atlanta's scheme, but he has the athleticism Quinn likes in his second level defenders.
Critics of the Walker pick will point to his level of competition in the Mountain West Conference as well as his lack of overall value at No. 119. He received an UDFA grade from NFL Network, and while their rankings aren't the gospel, it generally illustrates that No. 119 is MUCH higher than anyone predicted for Walker. This is especially curious when more well-know commodities like Oregon's Troy Dye were still available. Here's hoping Mykal Walker turns out to be the next Foye Oluokun and NOT the next Duke Riley.
Jaylinn Hawkins, S
The Falcons will enter 2021 with two of their top three safeties (Keanu Neal & Damontae Kazee) potentially entering free agency. This raised the needs to find a developmental safety, and they got just that in three-year starter Jaylinn Hawkins from Cal.
Hawkins was a very productive member of a Cal secondary that was quietly one of the best in the country. He lined up all over the field for the Golden Bears, going from split-field safety, to nickel, to eighth man in the box. He has the versatility to play both safety spots for the Falcons, but he could fall into the category of "jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none." He is an average athlete that didn't run at the combine and had mediocre explosiveness scores on the vertical & long jump (35" & 117"). He does a lot of things adequately, but doesn't really have an elite skill to hang his hat on. While he has solid ball skills and tackles well, he also has a history of targeting penalties.
Hawkins had an UDFA grade from some draft experts, so this pick is MUCH higher than anyone projected. That's not great from a pure value standpoint, especially since Hawkins projects to be no better than the fourth safety on the depth chart and a valuable special teams player.
Sterling Hofrichter, P
Why did the Falcons draft a punter? Because incumbent Sam Irwin-Hill reportedly had visa issues that necessitated the Falcons releasing him today.
If you're going to draft a punter (which is always a questionable proposition), you may as well get a four-time Ray Guy finalist that can also handle place kicking and kickoff duties. In other words, drafting a punter isn't advisable, but if you take one he should at least be a stud. Hofrichter is a stud.
Hofrichter was a first-team All-ACC selection and a near consensus All-American. He had a 62% touchback rate in two years handling kickoff duties, and only had two punts touch the endzone for touchbacks in 2019. Only 14% of his punts were returned this season and the scouting reports speak of both his elite hangtime and his plus tackling (yes, you read that correctly). This is clearly a need pick, but Hofrichter's versatility might allow the Falcons to open up an additional roster spot if he can handle ALL kicking duties as a rookie.
Grades
I hate grading a draft before seeing people actually play, but since that's what people expect...
Value: (4/10)
While the Terrell pick is defensible, the Falcons drafted two players in the fourth round that probably had sixth-round talent. Hennessy and Davidson are the only players that provided truly good value in the second and third rounds. The Falcons also took a punter, which is generally never considered good value, no matter how good they are.
Talent: (6 /10)
The Falcons prioritized need and fit over pure talent, and the result is a class without any truly "elite" players. The top three picks are good football players, but none of them come into the league with the expectations of performing at an All-Pro level.
Needs met: (10/10)
The Falcons met both immediate and future needs with a heavy emphasis on defense. While a running back would have been nice, it certainly wasn't a need with the addition of Todd Gurley and the fact the depth chart includes backs from each of the last three drafts.
Summary
The overall theme for this draft was "versatility." With only six picks in the most pivotal draft of the Dan Quinn era, the Falcons prioritized positional versatility over raw talent in their second, third, and fourth round picks. Even Hofrichter provides versatility as someone who may be able to handle both specialist duties. All five players have the ability to slot in at multiple areas of need, allowing the Falcons to "steal" depth with their limited number of selections. Whether that versatility translates into actual on-field production remains to be seen.
Check back for a list of the Falcons undrafted free agents via The Falcoholic:
UDFA Contracts