Falcons 2020 Draft Grades

[AHF]

Figured people could share what they see for team grades as we read them.  Bear in mind that most draft grades range from A to C with only a few mentions below some form of C (sometimes none).

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NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

Picks: 1-16: Clemson CB A.J. Terrell; 2-47: Auburn EDGE Marlon Davidson; 3-78: Temple C Matt Hennessy; 4-119: Fresno State LB Mykal Walker; 4-134: California S Jaylinn Hawkins; 7-228: Syracuse P Sterling Hofrichter

Favorite pick: Davidson

Davidson and Hennessy were smart value selections at weaker positions in this draft class, so both deserve kudos. Davidson will work into a starting role in time and be worth the pick where they got him, as Atlanta’s DL depth was perilous heading into the draft. He can play base end or be an interior rusher, so that versatility is nice. Davidson is a good player who impressed with his toughness and versatility over four years in the SEC. 

Least-favorite pick: Terrell

It’s not a terrible pick, and he might have gone off the board 19th to the Raiders, so there was no getting him in Round 2. As rough a night as Terrell had in the 2019 national title game, he was that much more impressive in the championship contest the year prior, so that narrative can die on the vine as far as we’re concerned. But he was a second-round talent, coming up short in his tackling and making plays consistently, along with recovering with speed after receivers got a step on him.

Overall: They turned the bonus pick acquired for Mohamed Sanu into Hayden Hurst, so that needs to be factored into the equation, and their first four picks and Hofrichter — if he wins the punting job, as expected — could all contribute early on. This was not the fireworks draft some expected, especially given all the talk of a bold trade up into the draft’s upper reaches, and we assumed they might snag a slot receiver or some RB depth. All in all, it reads as a workmanlike collection of talent that’s neither offensive nor thrilling.

Grade: C+

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/final-2020-nfl-draft-grades-054820886.html

[AHF]

CBS:

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A.J. Terrell CB, CLEM Height: 6-1, Weight: 195  I don't love this pick. I think desperation forced this pick because they have issues at corner. They saw the first two corners go off the board and stood pat and went corner. There were pass rushers available. (Pete Prisco) C+

 

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Marlon Davidson DL, AUBURN

Height: 6-3, Weight: 303

DE to DT conversion. Heavy hands. Power for days. Good burst for his size. Major hustle player. Traits are there. Just wonder about playing a new position in the NFL. (Chris Trapasso)  B-

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Matt Hennessy OL, TEMPLE

Height: 6-4, Weight: 307

Incredibly agile center with awesome balance. Anchor and overall strength need to get better. Falcons needed more youth on the interior of their offensive line. By his second or third season, Hennessy can be a star. (Chris Trapasso)  B+

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Mykal Walker LB, FRESNO

Height: 6-3, Weight: 230

Explosive off-ball linebacker with some experience on the edge. Athleticism helps him get to the football in a hurry. Average-at-best in coverage. Slightly stiff/uncomfortable sinking. Best ranging sideline-to-sideline or flying downhill. Falcons needed linebacker depth. (Chris Trapasso)  C+

 

[AHF]

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Atlanta Falcons: C

Top needs: CB, Edge, RB, DT

The pick that stunned me the most on Day 1 was Atlanta taking cornerback A.J. Terrell at No. 16. It's one of the biggest reaches of the past few years. Think of it this way: At No. 16, many teams can get a top-10 player on their own board. The Cowboys did that at No. 17 with CeeDee Lamb. Instead, Atlanta forced a pick for a position of need. Sorry, Falcons, but you're not a cornerback away from the Super Bowl.

I have said for the past few weeks that there were likely to be a couple of Round 1 reaches for cornerbacks; it's a priority position, there was a drop-off after the top two guys, and teams want to make sure they get their guy. But Terrell was the No. 7 corner on my board (No. 61 prospect overall), and Noah Igbinoghene, Jeff Gladney and Jaylon Johnson were still available. Those are all better prospects than Terrell. This is just way too high.

Marlon Davidson (47) is a solid pick, and he could move inside to defensive tackle, and interior offensive lineman Matt Hennessy has some versatility. Linebacker Mykal Walker (119) went almost 100 spots before I had him in my rankings.

This comes down to a big-time reach in Round 1, and I just don't see Terrell as worth it.

ESPN

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2020/insider/story/_/id/29056681/2020-nfl-draft-grades-mel-kiper-all-32-classes-best-picks-steals-sleepers#ATL

[AHF]

SI:

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ATLANTA FALCONS

1 (16). A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
2 (47). Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn
3 (78). Matt Hennessy, C, Temple
4 (119). Mykal Walker, LB, Fresno State
4 (134). Jaylinn Hawkins, S, California
7 (228). Sterling Hofrichter, P, Syracuse

A.J. Terrell fits the long-bodied, rangy athletic profile of a cornerback in Dan Quinn’s Seahawks-style Cover 3 scheme. He changes directions soundly and can win through physicality or finesse. (In Atlanta, he’ll likely be encouraged to go with physicality.)

This selection could be viewed as a mild admission of underachievement from 2018 second-rounder Isaiah Oliver, who likely will now be cemented into the nickel outside corner role that he was demoted to down the stretch last season. Second-year pro Kendall Sheffield becomes the likely full-time slot defender. If all goes well, Atlanta will have three quality corners, which would allow them to maximize those Cover 3 zone concepts and continue to quietly dabble in more man-to-man than people realize.

Atlanta’s biggest need entering this draft was pass rusher—preferably an edge guy to align opposite free agent pickup Dante Fowler, which would enable Takk McKinley to slide inside. But this draft is light on ready-made first-round caliber pass rushers, and so Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff took the fuller value player. But they managed to find a defensive end they liked in the next round.

In some ways, Marlon Davidson—who played in Derrick Brown’s shadow at Auburn and was somewhat underappreciated—gives the Falcons another, more innately versatile version of Takk McKinley. He is a defensive end who has the tools to work off the edge or slide inside and play defensive tackle. That’s for 2020. For 2021 and beyond, Davidson potentially fills the role that the 2017 first-rounder McKinley, whose fifth-year option has not been picked up, has yet to fully maximize. After quietly going 6-2 in the second half of this season, this talented team is in “win now” mode. It needed more defensive line depth. A versatile player like Davidson can potentially solve multiple problems.

The other defensive picks—fourth-rounders Mykal Walker and Jaylinn Hawkins are here to add depth.

So is the first offensive choice, center Matt Hennessy, but just for now. Stud center Alex Mack has shown flickers of decline. He’ll be 35 at the end of this season and no longer under contract. And so Hennessy steps into an ideal scenario: a starting job waiting in the wings, with a chance first to learn as an understudy to one of the game’s great veterans.

Grade: B+

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/04/26/nfl-draft-2020-team-grades-picks-analysis

[Buzzard]

1 hour ago, AHF said:

ESPN

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2020/insider/story/_/id/29056681/2020-nfl-draft-grades-mel-kiper-all-32-classes-best-picks-steals-sleepers#ATL

Which is always a point of contention in NFL drafts. Its not necessarily that you picked for a position of need in most cases, its that you did not take one of their players at that position. In the NFL, playoff teams or wannabes draft for position a lot. If you take the pundits player, you get props. If you don't, you get a bad grade. No biggie really.

Edited April 27, 2020 by Buzzard

[bleachkit]

Solid meat and potatoes draft. Falcons were hoping Henderson or Kinlaw would fall to them, didn't happen. They tried to trade up, but unwilling to give up their 2nd, fish weren't biting. 

[parfait]

This draft is starting to look better and better. Terrell looks plug-n-play. Davidson is a monster. And the two 4th rounder might be ready to contribute more than I thought they would. Drafting a punter really chafes my hide, though.

[parfait]

But I kinda wish we had just signed a Tyler Eifert to take over at TE, rather than giving up a premium pick to get Hayden Hurst, although I am excited to see what Hurst can do in our offense.