The Atlanta Falcons could hold the key to the 2021 NFL Draft, at least according to one football insider.
Veteran NFL scribe Peter King has called out the fourth overall pick, held by the Atlanta Falcons, as the "pivot point" of this year's draft, in his latest column for NBC Sports.
With a new front office and head coach in place, the Falcons are at something of a crossroads as a franchise, King explains, and owner Arthur Blank is apparently toying with the idea of drafting franchise legend Matt Ryan's replacement.
Blank is unsure when the Falcons will be drafting this high again, according to King, particularly in a draft class that is thought to be as deep in quarterback talent as this year's.
Quarterbacks are likely to be the first and second picks at next month's annual event, and there's a decent chance the first three players off the board could be QBs.
Such a scenario -- assuming Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson go first and second, respectively -- could set up the Falcons to draft either Ohio State's Justin Fields or Alabama's Mac Jones, depending on who goes third overall to the San Francisco 49ers.
Not to be forgotten is North Dakota State's Trey Lance, whom the Falcons were set to scout at his pro day on Monday, according to King.
However, Blank will not force new GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Blank into a pick they're not comfortable with, King reports.
Ryan still has as much as 4-5 years left in the tanks, King says, in which case the "value" pick at No. 4 would be the best non-QB in the draft, who King says is Florida tight end Kyle Pitts.
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