Atlanta Falcons: Three potential players to select in the 2021 NFL Draft

Oct 31, 2020; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) runs against Mississippi State safety Shawn Preston Jr. (12) at Bryant-Denny Stadium during the second half of Alabama’s 41-0 win over Mississippi State. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports

RB Najee Harris

Let’s be honest here: the Atlanta Falcons running game has been anemic since the 2016 season. Sure, there have been sporadic games where the group does well, but primarily it’s been near the bottom of the league.

Part of that could be talent, but it could also be attested to now-former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.

While guys like Brian Hill and Ito Smith will most likely be returning, there is one outlier: Todd Gurley II. Like many Falcons fans, when it was announced that he signed a one-year deal with the team, it signaled a possibility of a resurgence, especially given he was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2018.

That said, his 678 yards registered 28th in the league for qualified backs, and there are some questions about whether he will return or not.

In the event the team decides to not extend another contract, there’s truly only one player I personally wish the team will draft: Alabama running back Najee Harris.

Let’s look at the starters: check out his measurements from the Senior Bowl in Mobile:

6-foot-one, 230 pounds, and a wingspan of 81″? This dude is a monster in the backfield. While reports stated he wasn’t participating in the game itself due to an ankle injury, his talent has been undeniable since he entered the fabled program.

Now to further the case: let’s look at his stats and why he’d fit well in Atlanta.

For starters, he averaged an impressive 6.0 YPC throughout college, and even more impressive: only one time in his three career fumbles did the defense recover (the 63-48 win over Ole Miss).

Of course, most arguably know the biggest highlight of his collegiate career:

Harris just seems to fit perfectly into our new regime, especially when we consider the fact that Arthur Smith did lead Derrick Henry (a fellow Alabama alum) to two of his best seasons in Tennessee.

So who’s to say he couldn’t do the same for Harris?