In the NFL Draft of 2024, the Falcons will need to address a few needs.
Now in session is the NFL scouting combine. The NFL community is coming together to support their individual teams in winning the Super Bowl and to help fulfill dreams. The Atlanta Falcons are one such team.
The NFC South title was up for grabs, and the Falcons were in the running. They started the season with a 6-6 record and held the division lead until that time, either outright or in a tie. However, a 1-4 season finale derailed those hopes and ultimately resulted in coaching staff turnover.
Nonetheless, Atlanta may now look to the draft to choose some players that could make a big impact and help them win the division in 2024. For the Falcons, wide receiver Ladd McConkey of Georgia and quarterback Bo Nix of Oregon stood out.
Quarterback Bo Nix
The Falcons have all the necessary components to be a formidable squad. They have a wealth of talented players in their skill position, such as Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. They have a strong offensive line. With an overall ranking of 11th, the Falcons’ defense gave up 321.1 yards per game.
In 2023, Atlanta’s quarterback play was a complete bust. The Falcons had some of the worst quarterback play in the NFL during the previous season, as measured by the composite score of EPA (Expected Points Added) plus CPOE (Completion Percentage Over Expectation).
Desmond Ridder, who started for Atlanta for the most of the 2023 season, was ranked 31st at quarterback among 49 eligible quarterbacks with at least 120 snaps under center in that measure. Their backup quarterback, Taylor Heinicke, came in 34th place overall.
Bo Nix might be the answer to every problem in Atlanta. Nix’s time at Auburn did not start his collegiate career off to the best of starts. Nix averaged just 6.85 yards per attempt and completed just 59.4% of his passes in three seasons there.
But once he got to Eugene, he was off and running like crazy. During his two seasons with the Ducks, Nix averaged 9.2 yards per pass attempt, completed 74.85% of his attempts, and tossed 74 touchdowns to just ten interceptions.
To put it in perspective, Nix passed for 45 touchdowns in his final season at Oregon, more than he did in his three seasons combined at Auburn (39). Nix appeared to be a legitimate NFL quarterback after improving at Eugene.
Additionally, he might be just what the Falcons are searching for. Their new coaching group, which includes offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and head coach Raheem Morris, was hired from the Los Angeles Rams, and they plan to use the same offensive scheme Sean McVay developed there. That can also entail looking for a quarterback who is more like to Matthew Stafford.
In Oregon, Bo Nix basically developed into that kind of quarterback. He was quite precise and could make a variety of throws throughout the field. This combination makes sense because he has the weapons at his disposal and fits the coaching staff’s ideal quarterback. The Falcons might be able to make it happen.
Ladd McConkey, Broadcaster
Perhaps the most underappreciated receiver in this talented class is Ladd McConkey. At least, the numbers seem to support that theory.
Ladd McConkey’s receiving statistics aren’t the most spectacular in this year’s class of receivers. He has only totaled 1,678 yards in his three-year career. To put things in perspective, Rome Odunze of Washington amassed 1,640 yards in *2023 alone.*
But, there’s a rationale behind that. During his time at Georgia, McConkey shared the field with outstanding players such as Adonai Mitchell, Jermaine Burton, George Pickens, and standout tight end Brock Bowers. Those three are on their way to join Pickens in the NFL, where he is already a member.
During McConkey’s tenure, the Bulldogs have also dominated college football. They’ve taken significant leads that their formidable defense won’t give up, so they’ve preferred to pound the ball and haven’t needed to air the rock everywhere.
Given this background and his incredible per-route metrics, McConkey might be a serious sleeper in the 2024 draft. He’d play his ball exactly down the road in Athens and blend in flawlessly alongside Atlanta’s elite talent players on offense. It appears that this is a match made in paradise.
