Every single year in the NFL, each of the teams in the league sees players come and go. It’s a natural part of the business of sports, but it can certainly make things challenging for coaches and GM’s as they try to keep their teams as competitive as possible. For those who have issues with the salary cap or who have major holes to fill, the draft can come at just the right time. It’s an opportunity to bring in some fresh blood, but every team know that the wrong picks can make matters worse than they already were. This is especially true for teams coming off a disappointing season, which is the case with the Atlanta Falcons. The NFC South is about to get tougher with the arrival of Tom Brady, so let’s look at what the Falcons did to strengthen their team via the draft and their NFL odds.
NFL Atlanta Falcons SB Odds & Analysis After Draft For 2020
Round 1
With former pro-bowler Desmond Trufant leaving during free agency, the Atlanta Falcons needed a new CB to fill that gap. That is exactly what they got, as they opted to take Clemson standout AJ Terrell with the 16th pick overall. As much as they needed a little extra depth at this position, Terrell was not likely the first choice for Atlanta, with many believing that they might make a trade to move up the board. That did not happen, though, and questions are going to be asked if Terrell does not come in and make an impact right away.
Round 2
Over the past couple of seasons, the Falcons have struggled to put any pressure on opposing QB’s, so their decision to pick DE Marlon Davidson looks like a good one. Davidson is on the books as one of the top 10 in Auburn team history with 17 sacks during his time there. This is a player that can come in and make an impact right away, and when you consider the moves that Atlanta made in free agency, they look, on paper at least, that much better up front.
Round 3
While C Matt Hennessy is one for the future and a potential replacement for Alex Mack, there is no reason why this young man cannot head into camp and compete for playing time at left guard. This is another area where the Falcons need real help, as their inability to protect Matt Ryan on a regular basis is one of the reasons why the offense sputtered do often last season.
Round 4
The Atlanta Falcons had a pair of picks in the 4th round, which they started off by adding some depth at the LB position. They took Mykal Walker out of Fresno State with their opening pick in this round, which they then followed up by selecting S Jaylinn Hawkins. With this pick, it’s clear that the Falcons are shopping for guys who can fill in at multiple positions.
Round 7
Coach Dan Quinn talked about getting younger at the punter and kicker positions, which he addressed with the final pick for the Falcons, which was P Sterling Hofrichter from Syracuse.
The general consensus among football insiders is that the Falcons deserve a B grade for this draft. The bookies still see the Falcons as an outsider to win the Super Bowl, putting them on the board at +4000.
