The Atlanta Falcons are looking ahead to the NFL Draft as offseason preparations are set to gear up. As discussion begins to swirl about the direction the team could go in April, the thought that they have a history of pursuing the "flashy pick" was brought up by Philadelphia radio host John Kincade.
As conference championship weekend nears, The Steakhouse welcomed in the former Atlanta sports talk host to discuss the Eagles' matchup with the Commanders. While he was on with the show, Kincade made some scathing comments about the decision-making by the Atlanta Falcons and why it seems to hold the team back from reaching a contender status in the NFL.
"It's a Falcons problem and it's been a Falcons problem since I lived there," he said. "You don't go buy the shiny toys! You know what the Eagles did? They had a Super Bowl roster and this offseason they went and bought the shiny position player in Saquon Barkley. You don't buy them first!"
Since Terry Fontenot took over the team in 2021, the Falcons have selected four offensive players and two "luxury" players in tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson. The selections have been a bit of a mixed-bag for the offense but the opportunity cost of passing on dominant defenders was particularly felt last season.
To Kincade, and several other critics of the decisions made by the Falcons' front office, it's because they have routinely passed on the "game wreckers" who power teams like the Eagles.
"What you do is invest in guys who are game-wreckers on both lines of scrimmage," Kincade continued. "The Eagles have the best offensive line remaining in the tournament, of the four teams. They have a defensive game-wrecker in Jalen Carter. They have a guy who is very situational in Jordan Davis but against the run, he's one of the best five run-stuffers in the NFL. You don't go and buy the toy.
Kincade continued, "Ever since Arthur Blank bought this team that has been their MO. 'What's sexy?' You don't go and do those things, you buy the line of scrimmage first! [The Falcons] never learn, Steak. They never learn."