Super Bowl 56 will bring the 2021-22 NFL season to a close out in Hollywood tomorrow night, but for the Falcons, mock draft season is already well underway.
The glaring holes on the Falcons’ roster are in the trenches as the team ended the season with the fewest sacks in the entire league (18) and Matt Ryan was among the most-sacked quarterbacks in the NFL.
In his early mock draft, Thomas Mott has the Falcons addressing the pass rush with the 8th overall pick by selecting Michigan DE David Ojabo before nabbing Alabama LB Christian Harris in the 2nd round (43rd). Next, he selected Texas A&M RB Isaiah Spiller with the Falcons' second pick in the 2nd round (58th) and Alabama WR John Metchie in the 3rd round (74th).
Should the Falcons draft Metchie, he would likely become a replacement for another former Crimson Tide wide receiver that is currently away from the team—Calvin Ridley. Citing mental health issues, Ridley missed the final 12 games of the season and left a hole at the WR position entering the offseason. It remains to be seen if he’ll be back in a Falcons uniform, but earlier this week on 92.9 The Game, team owner Arthur Blank said that they “would love to see him stay as a Falcon.”
While he still believes Ridley gets traded, Mott expressed that his return would simplify the Falcons’ plan in the upcoming draft.
“If they can have Ridley come back, it makes our lives a lot easier because we don’t have to worry about wide receiver. If he doesn’t come back, you have to get one at some point in the first four rounds—preferably the first three rounds. The issue with that is, you need a corner, you need a defense end (maybe two), you need an offensive lineman," he said.
Prior to stepping away in 2021, Ridley emerged as a top target for Matt Ryan with 90 catches going for 1,374 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2020. If he returns, Mott has high exceptions for the Falcons offense moving forward.
“If he comes back and is what he was two years ago, alongside Kyle Pitts in Arthur Smith’s offense with Cordarrelle Patterson, this offense is the best offense in the NFC South. That’s simply because they will be talented enough and Tom Brady doesn’t exist with Tampa Bay as it currently stands," Mott said.
Mott also pointed out that with around $13 million in cap space available, the Falcons cannot simply overspend to fix their issues in free agency. That could also be a problem with Patterson likely commanding a high asking price this offseason after leading the team in both rushing and receiving touchdowns.