The quarterback position consistently held the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. According to reports, the front office will make a concerted effort to upgrade behind center this off-season.
At 7-10, the Falcons missed out on the postseason by two games as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seized the NFC South crown.
However, of Atlanta’s ten losses, six came by one possession. The team was competitive in most games but regularly fell apart in crunch time, primarily due to poor quarterback play.
Desmond Ridder started 13 games, winning six, but his play was so up-and-down that the Falcons benched him on two separate occasions for veteran journeyman Taylor Heinicke.
Falcons Mock Draft: J.J. McCarthy heads to Atlanta
Entering the off-season, many around the league expect general manager Terry Fontenot to be aggressive in finding an upgrade. In today’s NFL mock draft, he does precisely that.
Round 1, Pick 8 — J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
J.J. McCarthy led the Michigan Wolverines to a college football title last year, finishing his career with a 27-1 record. The Falcons select McCarthy at No. 8 overall, with scouts lauding his arm talent, athleticism, and untapped potential.
Ain’t many active NFL quarterbacks who throw as well on the move as JJ McCarthy.JJ McCarthy turned 21 three weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/AIAMgWSuU7
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) February 13, 2024
Round 2, Pick 43 — Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama
Besides quarterback, a pass rusher is far and away the most significant need for Atlanta. Chris Braswell set a career-high in sacks (8) for Alabama in 2023 and checks all the boxes physically.
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Chris Braswell slams Leary for the SACK!!!! pic.twitter.com/3MzkMkz0NY
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) November 11, 2023
Round 3, Pick 74 — Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky
Drake London is the only above-average receiver on the roster for 2024. Malachi Corley is elite after the catch, though he’s still developing his route tree. Corley would give McCarthy a reliable target in the passing game.
My favorite "sleeper" WR in 2024: Malachi Corley-5'10, 215 Deebo-ish style player-31% of WKU's passing offense at 21-Hyperproductive players at G5 schools are always a little undervalued by the market; I'm buyingA potential sequel to Tank Dell's fantasy impact from '23 pic.twitter.com/1wWwPOMrvp
— Davis Mattek (@DavisMattek) February 19, 2024
Round 3, Pick 79 (via JAX) — Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
Back-to-back wide receiver selections show how prevalent a need it is for the Falcons. Jermaine Burton joins the fold after starring for the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide in college.
Alabama WR Jermaine Burton with a nice catch downfield-Holds just enough of the red line to give his QB space to fit the throw on the back shoulder-Tracks & high points the ball-Athleticism to contort his body & get a foot down pic.twitter.com/mQTqqmuE9j
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) February 17, 2024
Round 4, Pick 110 — Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
Khyree Jackson checks in at 6’3” and 195 pounds with long arms capable of disrupting passing lanes. Jackson needs to put on muscle to stick around, but his skill set is that of a starting NFL cornerback.
I'm surprised there isn't more talk about Oregon CB Khyree Jackson. Really smooth movement skills, especially for a 6-3 corner. And he likes to mix it up with WRs. Not afraid to challenge at the LOS. Often times in press with little to no safety help over the top. @Real_Khyree pic.twitter.com/e2jjSLoIrR
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) February 20, 2024
Round 5, Pick 142 — Beau Brade, DB, Maryland
Another addition to the secondary comes via Maryland standout Beau Brade. His versatility shows up on tape, as Brade flexes the range to play deep as a safety and the instincts to perform in the box as a run defender.
Here are a few plays where Maryland SAF Beau Brade shows off solid tracking and footwork. pic.twitter.com/Tlw6Oi5OD3
— Mase (@caliking49er17) February 14, 2024
Round 6, Pick 199 — Tanor Bortolini, OL, Wisconsin
Tanor Bortolini started over 20 games at Wisconsin and did so at several different positions along the offensive line. The ability to play anywhere on the line is Bortolini’s key to success in the NFL. He’s the optimal sixth lineman on the depth chart.
Posted something on here about @BadgerFootball OL Tanor Bortolini (6037v, 306v, 31 5/8 arm) back in June and within an hour I had NFL scouts texting me saying he was one of their favorite sleepers in this year’s class. Bortolini, who has started games at OC, OG, & TE is also one… pic.twitter.com/RUOVeMrhnG
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) September 23, 2023
Check back tomorrow for our seven-round mock draft for the Washington Commanders. In the meantime, you can check out our past mock drafts for the Bears and Patriots.