UGA & GA Tech products don’t get enough attention from the Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons found draft success in 2020, filling a lot of needs on the roster.
In the history of the franchise, that Atlanta Falcons have drafted 606 college prospects since their first draft back in 1966; on average that is just over 11 new draft picks per season.
Of the 606 draft picks in the history of the franchise, just 15 of them have been from either in state schools – UGA or Georgia Tech. With all of the prospects that those two schools have turned out of the years, one would think that the Falcons would have the advantage of driving an hour in either direction to see these guys play.
Only one of those 15 were taken in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft; Keith Brooking back in 1998. One could argue, he is one of the best linebackers in franchise history, regardless of how it ended.
Not being a UGA or Tech myself, it seems peculiar as to why these schools are not getting any love from the Atlanta Falcons. Sure, there are years where the school’s best prospects simply are not what the team is looking to fill.
However, after 54 years and drafting more than 600 players in total, the numbers just do not add up. The Atlanta Falcons have drafted 17 players from Florida and Florida State combined and 18 players from Auburn and Alabama combined.
While the Falcons did a great job addressing needs in the 2020 draft, it would have been nice to see them an in-state kid like quarterback Jake Fromm or Solomon Kindley to the interior offensive line. While I do not view Fromm as a starting NFL QB, the Falcons could have developed him and then traded him for pieces down the road. Hell. Green Bay took a QB in the first round, it would not have killed the Falcons to take one late in the fourth.
When looking at general manager Thomas Dimitroff, he has drafted a total of 93 players during his time in Flowery Branch. Just three of those 96 picks have been unused on players from the two flagship schools. Thomas Brown in 2008, Akeem Dent in 2011 and Vance Walker in 2009.
Next. Falcons should trade for Yannick Ngakoue. dark
It seems like both schools have had a lot more to offer of the last 13 years than just three prospects. Given the bust rate of those Dimitroff has brought in, maybe taking a chance on in-state kids may not be a bad thing.