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Atlanta Falcons: 3 players we regret passing on in the 2020 NFL Draft

By Andrew Boardwine

Jan 13, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A view of an Atlanta Falcons helmet on the gourd after the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Divisional playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A view of an Atlanta Falcons helmet on the gourd after the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Divisional playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Players we regret not seeing drafted by the Atlanta Falcons Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Players we regret not seeing drafted by the Atlanta Falcons Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Three players the Atlanta Falcons regret passing on in the 2020 NFL Draft

The Atlanta Falcons have made some good decisions and they’ve made some bad decisions over the course of the last half-decade that have us all sitting here today wondering what the future will hold.

As the Falcons have now hired their new general manager in Terry Fontenot and head coach in Arthur Smith, it’s time for a new culture to emerge.

That being said, we can’t help but look back at the decisions last spring and how things might have been different with a single draft pick.

Here’s a look at three players the Atlanta Falcons regret not selecting in the 2020 NFL Draft, or at least we regret them not being selected.

3. A.J. Epenesa

The Falcons had the No. 47 overall pick in the second-round of the 2020 NFL Draft and they elected to go with Auburn’s Marlon Davidson.

If you just said to yourself “who,” you’re not alone.

Davidson barely saw the field this season and never contributed anything close to what many thought he might be able to coming into Atlanta as a second-rounder.

If only there had been a competent edge-rusher that the Falcons could’ve taken in the second-round who had the ability to come in and make an immediate impact. Oh, wait, there was. His name was A.J. Epenesa.

Epenesa was taken seven picks later at No. 54 overall by the Buffalo Bills. He has played at least 15 snaps in 13 games this season and the last eight games have seen him play more than 30 percent of the defensive snaps.

He has tallied 14 tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss and three QB hits during that time on one of the top defenses in the league in Buffalo. Can you imagine what he might have been able to do with the playing time he could’ve garnered with the Falcons?