The Atlanta Falcons 2022 draft class is in the history books. Let the evaluations, criticism and second guessing begin.
Many could argue that the post draft reaction conversations are even more exciting than the weeks and hours of pre-draft speculation that dominates the headlines for the months leading up to the grand event every spring.
For the Atlanta Falcons, this process will be quite interesting over the next several years while watching the careers of this draft class.
Led by GM Terry Fontenot and HC Arthur Smith, the Falcons made eight selections in the 2022 NFL Draft. Four of the Falcons selections are players from the biggest and best conferences of the college football landscape.
First round pick Drake London (USC), and second rounder Arnold Ebiketie (Penn St) played in the Pac-12 and Big 10 respectively. While the Falcons final two picks, Justin Shaffer and John FitzPatrick both come from the NFL talent rich Southeastern Conference and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Starting late in the second round when the Falcons selected Montana State LB Troy Andersen (Big Sky DPOTY) with the 58th overall pick, the Falcons proceeded to draft four straight players from non-power 5 conferences.
QB Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati, American Athletic Conference), LB DeAngelo Malone (WKU, Conf USA), and RB Tyler Allgeier (BYU, FCS Independent) all played in what is considered lesser competition leagues by most scouting departments.
But did the Falcons find some diamonds in the smaller conference schools?
There is no guarantee that you will be a NFL superstar just because you played college football against the highest level competition of the FCS.
Steve Young, Brett Favre, Jerry Rice, Walter Payton are just a few examples of NFL Hall of Famers who played collegiately at smaller conference schools.
Only time will tell if the Falcons have found that rare gem!