Safety was a giant need for the Atlanta Falcons in this draft, with just Jaylinn Hawkins and Erik Harris as the current starters heading into the weekend. The Falcons made a move early on day two Friday to move back a few spots with the Denver Broncos. Ultimately, that move still netted a top safety in UCF’s Richie Grant.
Grant brings excellent range to Atlanta, and he’s capable of playing in a single high role and covering ground to both sidelines. He has a penchant for finding the football in the air and possesses the versatility to line up in the slot in man coverage. This is a slam dunk for a needy secondary.
Grade: A
The Atlanta Falcons were a little undermanned on the offensive line in 2020, and they made sure to use multiple selections at the position in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jake Matthews, Kaleb McGary, and Chris Lindstrom have their starting spots all but locked in, but there are openings elsewhere.
The Falcons select Jalen Mayfield with their third-round pick, which if said two months ago, would’ve been an excellent value. Then, Mayfield’s testing numbers came out, and combined with inconsistent tape, pushed him down boards. He’s impressive in the run game, but there are questions about his long-term ability at tackle. He can slide in at guard right away to potentially be an impact player.
Grade: B-