Redrafting the Atlanta Falcons 2017 draft class

The Atlanta Falcons initially had the 63rd overall pick but traded that second-round picks to the Bills in order to grab the 75th pick, 149th pick and 156th pick in the 2017 draft. The Falcons could have upgraded the roster tremendously with those slots but instead, they drafted a guy like Duke Riley.

As I stated in the FanSided look back, Duke Riley was a crapshoot and one that Dimitroff and Quinn were hoping would turn out like their Deion Jones pick. Both played together at LSU, both were fast and physical linebackers, however, Riley lacked Jones’ football IQ.

During his time in Atlanta, Riley never understood how to play anything but special teams. He was always behind his target and never understood angles in order to actually play defense. The Falcons shipped him to the Eagles in 2019.

Instead of taking Duke Riley, the Atlanta Falcons could have drafted Shaquill Griffin out of Central Florida. Griffin has had quite the career for the Seahawks logging three interceptions in 41 starts, 36 passes defended and was a 2019 Pro Bowl selection.

With the issues that the Atlanta Falcons have in the secondary, a player like Griffin would have been a much better pick and one that puts Atlanta closer to being a Super Bowl contending team.