The Atlanta Falcons 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books, which means it’s time to review the actual picks. Ultimately, the Falcons only made six selections throughout the seven-round event, but they did their best to make the most of the limited opportunities.
In all, they obtained the following players:
- First Round, 8th Overall – Bijan Robinson, RB
- Second Round, 38th Overall – Matthew Bergeron, OT
- Third Round, 75th Overall – Zach Harrison, EDGE
- Fourth Round, 113th Overall – Clark Phillips, CB
- Seventh Round, 224th Overall – DeMarcco Hellams, S
- Seventh Round, 225th Overall – Jovaughn Gwyn, G
Atlanta Falcons 2023 NFL Draft Review Grade: 7.5/10
Atlanta Falcons 2023 NFL Draft Review
The Best Player: Bijan Robinson
You can certainly debate the wisdom of drafting a running back with a top-10 pick (and don’t worry, we’ll get there), but what’s not up for debate is just how good Bijan Robinson is at the game of football. The Texas alum could very well be the best running back prospect to enter the NFL since Ladanian Tomlinson, and putting him in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy scheme is just unfair to opposing defenses. With a passing attack that may or may not be functional in 2023, look for Atlanta to use Robinson as much as humanly possible, and don’t be surprised if he takes home Rookie of the Year honors.
The Head-Scratcher: Also Bijan Robinson
We’re already at THAT point of the Falcons draft review. Yes, Bijan Robinson is a fantastic player, but he’s a running back and the Falcons roster is littered with holes, so what is the point of this pick? Running backs are inherently interchangable – it’s the reason a fifth-round rookie like Tyler Allgeier is able to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, so using a high pick on them really doesn’t make sense unless it’s the only weakness on an otherwise championship-caliber roster.
The Falcons roster is littered with holes, so not only could this pick have been used to improve a more important position, but the notoriously short shelf life of a running back means that Bijan Robinson might not be an elite player by the time the Falcons are ready to compete. Perhaps Robinson was the most talented player left on the Falcons draft board, but he certaintly wasn’t the most valuable one, and that is reflected in the review score.
The Surprise: Matthew Bergeron
Bijan Robinson could truly fit every category aside from “the steal”, but writing about him that frequently would get a little boring. So, to combat this, we’re going to turn to Atlanta’s second pick in the NFL Draft: offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron. Bergeron is going to be a solid offensive lineman, but nobody knows if he’ll play tackle or guard. He is shorter than your average tackle and had to add a lot of mass to make up for his small build. Unfortunately, adding all this weight caused him to lose some agility, making his weak to speed rushers. He can’t have his cake and eat it too, so he might have to move to guard. He will play well there, but what is the point of taking a player without a position when you have a quarterback that will desperately need the best protection possible if he wants to succeed?
The Steal: Clark Phillips
Clark Phillips is not going to be an All-Pro, but it is amazing that he was still on the board this late in the NFL Draft. The Utah product plays with a faw ferocity that you love to see, and while it does lead to some flags, it also dislodges receivers from their routes and messes up timing patterns for quarterbacks. This hard-nosed style of play combined with his natural sense for the ball means that he has a decent chance to start as a rookie.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Zach Harrison
Zach Harrison is a physical freak that has yet to learn the nuances of his position. Experienced offensive tackles can take advantage of his imperfect technique in full-contract drills, but it’s going to harder to do that in minimal-contact practices. Because of this, Harrison’s quick burst and acceleration off the edge will look even better than it does on the field, which will probably lead to some partially unjustified hype trains.
The Rest
DeMarcco Hellams and Jovaughn Gwyn are the types of players you’d expect to find at the very end of the seventh round. Hellams plays a physical style of safety that should make him a welcome addition to the special teams unit, but he’s a little too slow and stiff to be a regular defender. Jovaughn Gwyn has sound technique, but he might be too small to play in the NFL.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
