2021 NFL Draft: 3 options for Atlanta Falcons first round pick

What will the Atlanta Falcons do with their first round pick?

With two weeks left in the NFL season many teams have already turned their attention towards the NFL Draft and the allure of adding new talent. For the Atlanta Falcons this phenomenon may have happened weeks ago when the team decided to part ways with former head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Since that move though the team has continued to climb the draft order and is currently slated to pick top five, a feat not many expected when the year began.

The Falcons are in a pivotal position as a franchise and their path chosen with this first round pick will determine their roster outlook for the next three plus years. There are a lot of options the Falcons have at their disposal in terms of draft picks and players to add to the roster. But before we have more clarity on their direction, the team must get the head coach and general manager hiring correct. Until then, the best we can do is infer based on previous discussions and needs of the roster both in the short term and long term.

Perhaps the biggest discussion so far has been whether or not the Falcons should draft Matt Ryan’s replacement. Now this conversation itself is a tricky one to navigate but one that needs to be had as new evaluators come into the building. On one hand Ryan is not the problem with this team and is still playing some relatively good ball as he continues to break records. However, he will be 36 next year and historically the drop off in play may follow.

With new decision makers the choice will come more clear as they discuss their plans for the future, but for now the best we can do is review the different outcomes possible with the Falcons first round draft pick.