Photo by Yassie, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe NFC South Got Louder Last Night. The Falcons Watched.
Saints added a weapon. Bucs added a pass rusher. Panthers protected their QB. The Falcons added a dry run.
Saints added a weapon. Bucs added a pass rusher. Panthers protected their QB. The Falcons added a dry run.
That's what Cunningham called it. He practiced picking at 13 — the pick that used to be theirs, the one they traded for James Pearce Jr. — just to see what it would feel like. The Rams used that pick on a quarterback. Atlanta used the night on an exercise.
Here's what actually happened in Round 1. New Orleans got Jordyn Tyson at 8. WalterFootball gave it an A. The best receiver in the class, they said. Tampa got Rueben Bain at 15. PFF gave it an Elite grade — one of only two in the entire round. Could have gone top 10. Carolina took Monroe Freeling at 19 to protect Bryce Young. They also have eight total picks.
The Falcons have five picks. First one tonight at 48. Thirty-five selections will happen before Cunningham even gets to open his mouth.
I'm 70% sure the Falcons are already behind the NFC South. Not because pick 48 can't produce a starter. It can. Christen Miller and Lee Hunter are both sitting there. The counter writes itself — Banks at 18 was Kiper's biggest stretch of the night. Day 2 value beats Day 1 reaches.
But that argument only works if you trust the front office that put you here. This is the same organization that traded a first-rounder for a player currently facing three felonies. Pearce's docket sounding was last night. While everyone else drafted, his case moved to a May 4 trial hearing.
On April 7, I was 58% on Stefanski being able to untangle the mess. I'm not moving that number tonight. Nothing that happened in Round 1 made Atlanta's life easier. Three rivals got better. The Falcons got a practice rep.
Prove me wrong at 48, Cunningham. The division isn't waiting.
The Tilt
Everyone else got better last night. Atlanta is sitting at 48 hoping someone falls. Hope is not a draft strategy.
— Dex Ponce
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