Draft season is a special time of year in the NFL. Smokescreens breed uncertainty, and uncertainty breeds hope for fans across the country. The Falcons are thrust into an interesting, if not fortunate, position this year. They have a number of different needs, but the luxury of going nearly any way that they choose. Thursday is sure to bring its fair share of surprises and the Voice of the Falcons, Wes Durham, joined The Midday Show to discuss what would surprise him in particular.
"What would surprise me? Quarterback," Durham told the Midday Show. "You already told us where you're going to go. You signed Marcus Mariota and he's a fit to Arthur Smith."
Marcus Mariota has experience playing under head coach Arthur Smith while the two were in Tennessee together. Mariota's struggles as a starter have been widely noted and although he was inevitably benched, he did show flashes under Smith's tutelage with three games over 250 total yards and two with three touchdowns.
Terry Fontenot told the media on Tuesday that the team had been doing its due diligence on the quarterback position and that they "want to add to that room and see what happens."
The Atlanta Falcons have been visibly interested in the quarterbacks mocked within the first two rounds of the draft. Members of the Atlanta front office have been sighted at the pro days of Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder, Liberty's Malik Willis, and Pitt's Kenny Pickett.
"I just think you just need some of those other things more," Durham said. Specifically in the secondary, he wants to see someone that can "play right away".
Casey Hayward adds a lot to the secondary, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the team opts to add a guy like LSU's Derek Stingley Jr. or Cincinnati's Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner if they end up dropping out of the early picks.
"The other thing I'd like to see if one of the tackles fall," he said. "I saw Eki Ekwonu play at NC State and I think Eki Ekwonu is going to be a terrific player. I know Neal is going to be a terrific player. I think Cross can be a really good player."
The Falcons have the luxury of options, especially when a team ahead pulls the inevitable shocker. If (and when) that happens, the Falcons will have their pick of the litter or have the option to increase their capital with a trade.
Regardless of the direction to choose to go, the Falcons will certainly be an interesting team to watch come Thursday.
