Atlanta Falcons: Reviewing The Falcons’ 2012 Draft Class
Nov 3, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Atlanta Falcons tackle Lamar Holmes (76) on the sidelines in the third quarter. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 34-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Lamar Holmes
The Falcons picked up another offensive lineman in the third round, taking Lamar Holmes out of Southern Miss. Holmes was seen as a developmental prospect who could become the starting right or left tackle down the line.
December 23, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie (63) defends against Atlanta Falcons tackle Lamar Holmes (76) during the third quarter in the final regular season game at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
We barely saw him in 2012, but he featured in all 16 games in 2013, starting 15 of them. Entering the season as the starting tackle, Holmes struggled in a big way, particularly later on in games.
Like Konz, he disappointed in 2013, and the Falcons endured a miserable season.
Also like Konz, Holmes’ 2014 season would be cut short due to injury; he had played just four games of the season.
His future, too, is unclear, and he will need to bounce back in a strong way this offseason to have a shot going forward in the new-look Falcons team.
Disappointment later on
To make matters worse, all four of the following draft picks are no longer on the Falcons roster.
Thomas Dimitroff raised a few eyebrows when he took fullback Bradie Ewing in the fifth round. It seemed high for a fifth rounder, especially considering it was Atlanta’s third selection of the draft. Ewing played in just two games for Falcons, and is now a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Out of the entire draft class, fifth rounder Jonathan Massaquoi looked like he could turn out to be the most valuable selection. The defensive end didn’t feature much in his rookie campaign, but would play a bigger role the following two years.
He made seven starts in two years, racking up six sacks but was released this past February after falling out of favor.
Safety Charles Mitchell never developed into the player the Falcons had hoped for, and he was released. Seventh rounder Travian Robertson flashed some potential, but he too wasn’t kept in Atlanta and landed in Washington last year.
Thomas Dimitroff has had some very good drafts in his time in Atlanta, but 2012 was a disaster. Three years later, only two players remain on the roster, and neither one of their futures is safe.
Thankfully when it comes to Dimitroff’s drafts, 2012 was the exception, not the expectation.