It is likely that Terry Fontenot would like to forget his first draft class during his tenure.
Just two of the nine players he chose—Drew Dalman and Kyle Pitts—are reliable contributors at the moment, and Pitts, the fourth overall pick in the draft, may not even receive a second contract. If he doesn’t produce at a greater rate over the following couple of seasons, it might look very awful considering some of the talent that was selected soon behind him, including Micah Parsons, Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, Patrick Surtain II, and others.
Three players, including third-round pick Jalen Mayfield, have left the Falcons after less than three complete seasons, while Richie Grant, the team’s 2021 second-round pick, appears to have lost his spot to a rookie. Although it was incredibly disgusting, the 2022 draft class features several promising players, like Drake London, Tyler Allgeier, and Arnold Ebiketie, and the 2023 class appears to be among the best the Falcons have had in a long time.
Bijan Robinson’s selection by Fontenot as the eighth overall pick drew harsh criticism. Though Robinson’s explosiveness as a running back makes Jalen Carter seem like a better choice in retrospect, no one can contest that. If he can maintain his health, he appears to be one of the best players in this league for a considerable amount of time. However, considering the Falcons only made six selections, it’s the quality Fontenot was able to locate in the latter rounds that truly makes this year’s draft class appear great.
Matthew Bergeron, who was selected by Atlanta in the second round, became the team’s starting left guard right away. Although there have been some inconsistent games like with other rookies, he and Chris Lindstrom appear to be one of the most dangerous guard tandems in the league for many years to come.
Zach Harrison, a defensive end for Ohio State, was selected by Fontenot with their third pick.
Although Harrison wasn’t quite as effective as some of the guys who came before him, the Buckeyes are notorious for producing elite edge rushers who go on to play in the NFL. Harrison has developed into a significant member of the Falcons defense even in his first season. Harrison had his first sack of the season against the Panthers two weeks prior, and this past Sunday against the Colts, he added two more.
Then, the Falcons selected Utah’s Clark Phillips, an undersized corner, with a fourth-round selection. For the first ten weeks of the season, Phillips saw very little defensive action; however, a few weeks ago, he was put into the starting lineup against the Cardinals, when he dethroned Jeff Okudah to take A.J. Terrell’s place as the team’s starting corner.
However, the Falcons’ selection of Alabama safety DeMarcco Hellams in the seventh round may have been the greatest steal of them all. Hellams’s impressive preseason earned him a spot on the roster, and he is currently starting ahead of Richie Grant, a 2021 second-round pick. That’s a somewhat harsh assessment of Grant’s play considering that he is essentially the same as the majority of the other players in the Falcons 2021 selection class. However, Fontenot may have atoned for that error by hitting a home run in the final round of this year’s draft.
Although Terry Fontenot will need to teach more draft classes before he is considered a draft guru, the initial outcomes are very positive. Atlanta will have a long-term problem with the Falcons if this starts to happen often. Fontenot has previously demonstrated a talent for being extraordinarily good at assessing professional persons. Since taking over, he has virtually hit a home run on every signing of a free agent.
Nevertheless, constructing through the draft is essential for long-term success. Although Terry Fontenot’s first class was far from ideal, the fact that it has improved each year may indicate that improvements have been made to the process that are producing better outcomes. If it keeps up, the Falcons will become a formidable team very quickly.
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