Atlanta Falcons second-year players must change the narrative in 2021

Atlanta Falcons second-year players need to make their mark in 2021.

There was a lot of hype and a lot of disappointment coming into the 2020 NFL season for the Atlanta Falcons top two picks in last year’s NFL draft.

When AJ Terrell had his name called at number 16 in the 2020 first round, Falcons fans were disappointed that this was the choice for former general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn and for good reason.

The two of them didn’t have the greatest eye for cornerback talent, to say the least.

Jalen Collins, Isaiah Oliver, Jordan Miller, and Kendall Sheffield didn’t give fans a lot to work with. When you add in the fact that Terrell seemed to get picked on his final college game, fans were not interested in bringing him to Atlanta.

They ignored the fact that Terrell was beaten in the national title against LSU with perfect throws and several uncalled pass interference plays. Fans ignored that he had not given up more than 60 yards in a game his junior year or that he had even given up a passing touchdown until the 15th game of the season.

All of that said, Atlanta Falcons fans were excited when the team announced defensive end, Marlon Davidson, out of Auburn.

Why? Well, he was an SEC player than they had heard of and AJ Terrell was not.

Davidson made his name in college by playing alongside Top 10 pick Derrick Brown and helping to create the best DL in college during the 2019 season. He was the guy that everyone believed could pair with All-Pro Grady Jarrett and bring the Falcons defensive line out of the abyss.

Fast forward 16 games and it is AJ Terrell that excites the fan base while Marlon Davidson was rarely seen on the field and never had his name called in year one. Terrell exceeded any and all expectations as a rookie while Davidson was not even a blip on the radar.

In addition to AJ Terrell and Marlon Davidson, the Atlanta Falcons also selected center Matt Hennessy, linebacker Mykal Walker, safety Jaylinn Hawkins, and punter Sterling Hofrichter.

Those six rookies have a chance to make their mark in year two as the franchise undergoes a transformation and looks to the future.

Terrell, Davidson, Hennessy, and Walker will have a chance to be among the 22 offensive and defensive starters when the season kicks off in six months. Coaches Arthur Smith and Dean Pees will need for these guys to be at their best if this franchise is going to have a shot at winning more than four games in 2021.

While the 2020 draft class was not the choice of the current front office and coaching staff, they are going to be vitally important to the success that those now in charge will have in the future.