With the 2024 NFL Draft now complete, the Atlanta Falcons continue to be the biggest story to come out of this season’s draft, most notably for their selection of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick.
On Friday the Falcons made another pick that to some was considered a reach as they traded up from the 43rd pick to 35th to select Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro. Atlanta then took Bralen Trice at (Washington edge-rusher) at 74, Braden Dorlus (Oregon DL) 109, JD Bertrand (Notre Dame LB) at 143, Jase McClellan (Alabama RB) at 186, Casey Washington (Illinois WR) at 187, and Zion Logue (Georgia DT) at 197.
While the Falcons draft class may have left many Atlanta fans feeling underwhelmed, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter felt that ultimately, the Falcons deserved a grade of A-.
“The fact that you got a quarterback, you didn’t have one, now you have two. You’re set for 10, 15 years,” Ledbetter told Steak Shapiro on Monday as he joined him on The Steakhouse, explaining why he believes the selection of Penix Jr. in addition to them adding “to the pass-rush” was worthy of giving the Falcons a high grade.
Ledbetter went on to reference Falcons head coach Raheem Morris’ time as defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams, noting that the defensive picks the Rams selected in the 2023. Morris, and his defensive staff, was “able to get those young guys to play when a lot of people were predicting them to fail,” adding that fans need to trust that Morris “knows what he’s doing.”
However, the Falcons beat writer admitted that his one negative takeaway from the draft was the move that allowed them to take Orhorhoro at 35.
“That was the one problem I had with the draft. You traded up to get the third-rated tackle,” Ledbetter told Shapiro.
Most Popular
Comments / 0