Broncos vs. Falcons: Rookies to watch in Hall of Fame Game

Chris Lindstrom

The Atlanta Falcons used the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft to solidify the right side of their offensive line. Taking both Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary in the first round could legitimately solve their issues up front. McGary will not play in the Hall of Fame game, but Lindstrom should see at least a little bit of action.

Lindstrom is an extremely talented offensive lineman who particularly shines in space. He is a perfect fit for the Falcons’ zone-blocking system and should have a lot of immediate success for the team. The Boston College product will likely be the Falcons’ starting right guard in 2019. It will be interesting to see if he can come in and immediately prove his worth as a first-round pick against the Broncos.

Kendall Sheffield

Kendall Sheffield is an extremely talented cornerback prospect who the Falcons landed in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. A torn pec held Sheffield back in the draft process, which is the only reason the Falcons were able to land him so late. This pick could quickly look like a major steal in the coming years.

Sheffield has been impressive in training camp and is a legitimate threat to be Atlanta’s third cornerback this season. He should see the field plenty on Thursday night. Can he get a leg up on his competition against the Broncos?

Olamide Zaccheaus

The most interesting undrafted rookie for the Atlanta Falcons this year is Olamide Zaccheaus, a wide receiver/gadget player out of Virginia. Zaccheaus is small (5-foot-8, 190 pounds), but he is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands. Elusive in the open field, Zaccheaus does a fantastic job of making defenders miss in space.

However, that’s basically his entire game. He is not a particularly impressive route runner, his hands are inconsistent and his size holds him back in any contact situation. If you can get him in space, Zaccheaus is great, any other time, he is a complete liability.

That being said, his elusiveness in the open field will play at the next level. If you can get this guy in space, he will make plays. Can he do the other things well enough to play actual wide receiver in a pinch? Is he good enough of a returner to warrant an actual roster spot? These are the things we are going to learn this preseason. One thing is for sure, Zaccheaus will be an exciting player to watch.