Atlanta Falcons 2022 Draft Prediction

Just a few days before the 2022 NFL Draft and I still have little to no idea who the Falcons will be targeting at any of their picks. I don’t believe the Falcons trade out of the eighth pick unless there is an offer including a first rounder next year. Possible trade candidates could be Kansas City, Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh according to some reports.

Round One, Pick 8: Malik Willis

The Falcons have perhaps the most mysterious pick in the draft. They truly could go many different ways and that could be further confusing depending what players are picked ahead of them. I do believe that if Trey Lance was available at four in the 2021 draft, the new regime would have picked ‘their’ franchise QB. Fast forward a year, and now the team has traded away their HOF quarterback leaving them with the chance to move ahead with a player they see as their franchise player. After missing on the Watson trade, I think the Falcons are 100% drafting a quarterback in the first round with that being one of Matt Corral, Desmond Ridder, or Malik Willis. If Willis is still here at 8 (or if they view him as QB1 on their draft board), the Falcons will do what it takes to get him which could include a trade up on draft night. If Ridder is their guy, then they may opt to select the best defensive player on the board and then trade back into the first round using some of their extra draft capital. Same applies to Corral as he is rumored to be a late first round pick and has some insiders claiming the team is a big fan of him. Personally, I think going for Ridder will allow them to double dip in the higher end talent this year.

All in all, Malik Willis of Liberty University has a lot of potential and is a proven athlete. I think Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith would be thrilled to work with his skillset as a great runner and an excellent arm. Also, he was born and raised outside of Atlanta. Playing in Mercedes Benz Stadium (and former Georgia Dome) has always been his dream. Having a mobile QB would bring life to the fanbase as a clear notion of ‘Turning the page’ in Atlanta Falcons history. It is hard to imagine that the Matt Ryan Era has ended, but I truly believe that the team will pick their franchise QB this year to help develop and invest in so that next offseason they can spend the new extra cap space to build a more complete roster with a few higher tier free agents.

Noteworthy mentions: If Thibodeaux is still here, I think that they run the pick to the podium. The Falcons could opt for Hamilton as well if Willis or Thibodeaux are already off the board.

Round Two, Pick 43: Drake Jackson

With their first second rounder, I expect the Falcons to select a defensive end or defensive tackle. They need to infuse some talent in the trenches. Drake Jackson from USC has a lot of traits that are key for a successful defensive edge. The Falcons possibly claim one of the best cornerback duos in the league now with the Casey Hayward signing so if they can get some younger guys in to learn the defensive system and apply consistent pressure on QBs the defense will be drastically different.

Other possible targets: Myjai Sanders has been heavily linked to the Falcons during the drafting process so they may be high enough on him to call his name in the second round or early third, but while I was talking about the defensive line he deserves a mention. Also, at some point in time, the Falcons will select some Georgia Bulldogs players. Maybe this year? I could see a Devonte Wyatt pick here too if they want to double up on interior defensive line to match with Grady Jarrett.

Round Two, Pick 58: Troy Anderson

Anderson may be a little bit of reach here but according to reports, the team prioritized going to his pro day. In my opinion, that is a big deal considering some of the staff would need to fly all the way across the country to Montana. With the departure of Foye Oluokun and with Deion Jones being a huge cap hit (with an expiring contract), I think the front office selects a linebacker that they really like who is fantastic at accumulating tackles. Someone has to step up and fill in the void of almost 160 tackles that Oluokun was responsible for last year. This is one of my picks that I believe has the highest chances of being correct.

Round Three, Pick 74: Alec Pierce

At some point they are going to get a wide receiver. Personally, I think that the team will prioritize QB in this draft and try to get the top consensus WR next year when other teams are climbing over each other for a play caller. Almost the entire coaching staff showed up at Cincinnati’s Pro Day a few weeks ago, so I definitely can see the team selecting multiple Bearcats this weekend. Alec Pierce is a solid number two option for an offense. He is a large receiver who has great contested catch skills as well. Not to mention, he appears to be a decent blocker which is something that will benefit his role in the offense year one.

Round Three, Pick 82: Jelani Woods

Sure, the wide receiver room looks a little barren at the moment, but does that mean they are going to be terrible all year? Absolutely not. The ’Rebuild’ timeline has been accelerated with Matt Ryan being traded, so the new management is shaping the roster to their liking. Arthur Smith is a former Tight Ends coach and loves to run two tight end personnel. Jelani Woods is a massive player at 6‘7, has a great game speed, and is a solid blocker as well. Pairing him with Kyle Pitts would immediately change the way this offense will operate. A run heavy scheme is so opposite of the air raid that Falcons fans have become accustomed to over recent years when we had the glory days of Ryan to Julio. The receiving core would run through the tight ends; in this case, at least for the 2022 season.

Round Four, Pick 114: Isaiah Spiller

Here is where the Falcons finally add some youth to their running back room. Isaiah Spiller has a large frame and is good at pass protection as well as hitting the open running lanes. There is not an immediate need at this position but I feel as though it is a good spot to select a talented and potential future starter.

Round Five, Pick 151: Alec Lindstrom

Adding more depth to the offensive line is never a bad idea and could have a higher priority. However, I think that they added enough depth in Free Agency to prioritize other positions in first. Also, he is the younger brother to all pro guard, Chris Lindstrom. Having the brother pair working together on the offensive line would be hard not to root for the next couple of years. The Falcons could definitely use more offensive guard depth.

Round Six, Pick 190: Jordan Stout

They need a punter after letting their starter walk in free agency a few weeks ago. I think they draft Jordan Stout of Penn State or Matt Araiza from San Diego State. Either option would provide a well need boost to the special teams unit. The team could use athletes at almost every position group.

Round Seven, Pick 213: Josh Johnson

Not exactly sure how to figure out who an NFL team will take with their final pick in the draft, so I went with a wide receiver who could also help as a punt returner. This player could also be another defensive line addition or even a cornerback as they typically can double as a special teams player as well.