A lot of what Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and Falcons owner Arthur Blank said at the annual NFL Owner's Meetings were things we had heard before: You can never have too much edge, the draft will be focused on defense, and we’re comfortable with having Kirk Cousins as our backup quarterback.
However, there was one thing that Morris said that was noteworthy when he was talking about what the Falcons have been doing leading up to the draft.
Tuesday Morris noted that the team has been to see some of the nation's top edge-rushers and offensive tackles. Now, the Falcons who have been, and still are in need of, pass-rush going out to see the nation's top edge-rushers is not surprising. But a Falcons team who basically has its offensive line solidified going out to see some of the nation's top offensive tackles is interesting.
The Morning Shift had Falcons beat writer Josh Kendall on the show and asked him about it, and he explained why he thinks there’s a strong possibility that one of Falcons first two picks could be used on an offensive lineman.
“That was one of the most interesting things that I heard down there which was don’t rule out a tackle in the first two rounds," Kendall said. "They have paid particular attention not just to Kelvin Banks, but to a couple of other guys, and you know when they sent a whole bunch of people to see Michael Penix we all kind of wrote it off as well you know they’re not taking a quarterback.
"I do think now that it’s possible that one of those first two picks, particularly if they are able to trade down from 15 to the mid 20s something like that could be an offensive lineman with the idea that that person immediately you know contends with Kaleb McGary for the starting right tackle job. And at the very least is ready to go as the next tackle.”
Kendall continued: “I don’t think there’s an heir apparent as a starting tackle in the building. In Jake Matthews for all that he’s done for this franchise you can’t take him for granted forever and everybody and their brother has wanted to replace Kaleb McGary forever, whether that’s gonna turn out to be what happens or not, keep an eye on tackles.”
If the Falcons release Kaleb McGary prior to June first they would save $14.5 million dollars against the cap, so if the Falcons were to trade back in the draft, gain extra draft capital, draft an offensive tackle later in the first round that could possibly play right tackle immediately, and then maybe transition whoever they drafted to left tackle at some point when Jake Matthews either retires or the Falcons move on from him that would give the Falcons extra cap space, an extra draft pick or two for this year, and a possible heir apparent for Jake Matthews.
When you think about that scenario it would actually make a lot of sense for the Falcons to trade back and draft a tackle, or even draft a tackle with their second round pick, and still use the 15th overall pick to draft an edge rusher, so when the draft starts in less than a month take Josh Kendall’s advice and “keep an eye on tackles”.
