With the 2021 Draft a mere two days away, the speculation and prognosticating have reached a fever pitch in NFL circles. That uncertainty seems to center with what the Atlanta Falcons end up doing with the fourth overall selection. Do they take a QB? Do they throw people for a loop and take a skill player, or maybe an offensive lineman? Do they trade back?
It's a fact that this roster has holes that will take more than the fourth pick to fix. So Nick Kayal took a step further and gave us what he thinks the Atlanta Falcons will do with all eight of their current selections between Rounds 1 - 6.
1-4 - Kyle Pitts, TE Florida
With Justin Fields going 3rd overall to the 49ers, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot & Head Coach Arthur Smith come to a consensus agreement Kyle Pitts is the 2nd best overall prospect in this draft behind Trevor Lawrence and go best available with this selection. In the arms race that is NFL offenses, the Falcons now bolster a quintet that features Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Kyle Pitts and Mike Davis. Factors in Hayden Hurst and Cordarrelle Patterson and opposing defenses will be scrambling to find ways to slow this offense down.
2-35 - Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL USC
According to The Draft Network, Vera-Tucker is the 22nd overall prospect in this years draft, yet he slips into Round 2 on Friday night and right into the Falcons lap. Atlanta's offensive line was poor last year and Vera-Tucker now becomes a legit option at either tackle position or possibly can be bumped inside to the interior of the offensive line giving this unit a significant upgrade to help all of these weapons flourish. (Travis Ettiene went one pick earlier at 34 to the Jets, and the choice was between Vera-Tucker and Bama center Landon Dickerson, who could replace Alex Mack if Hennessy isn't deemed to be the guy.)
3-68 - Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB Syracuse
The Falcons drafted A.J. Terrell in round 1 out of Clemson last year and come back on Friday night using their 2nd night two pick on another CB. Melifonwu will push Kendall Sheffield for the opposing CB job. Sheffield was a 4th rounder out of Ohio State in 2019 but hasn't proven much at all in his short time as a pro.
4-108 - Trey Sermon, RB Ohio State
Mike Davis is a solid short-term solution for the Falcons at RB. He was very good in the absence of Christian McCaffrey in Carolina and can catch passes as well, but Sermon could be a quality starter for years to come in this offense. Sermon is a local kid from Marietta, who previously played at Oklahoma before transferring to Ohio State. At 6'0 215, Sermon has good size and would flourish once he becomes the every down back.
5-148 - Richard LeCounte, S UGA
The Falcons stay local here and scoop up a former Dawg to address the back end of the secondary. Erik Harris, Jaylinn Hawkins Duron Harmon and TJ Green currently make up your Falcons safeties room. I think LeCounte could start sooner rather than later and certainly be a special teamer.
5-182 - Rashad Weaver, Edge Pitt
5-183- Jonathan Cooper- Edge- Ohio State
Falcons look for depth here on the front 7, hoping that one of these guys become a rotational or situational edge rusher for Dean Pees.
6-187 - Cornell Powell, WR Clemson
Terry & Arthur find a hidden gem late in the draft with Powell. At 6'0 210, Powell made big plays for Trevor Lawrence and went unnoticed in the Clemson offense. Powell caught 53 passes for 882 yards and 7 TD's last year.
6-219 - Darius Still, DT WVU
Another body in the trenches to pair next to Grady Jarrett and Marlon Davidson.