Simulating Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft scenario if TE Kyle Pitts is the pick

The Atlanta Falcons have some major decisions next week when they’re on the clock as part of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Falcons hold the most-intriguing selection in the NFL Draft at this point with the No. 4 overall pick.

There are two different distinct scenarios that could play out depending on which way the Falcons decide to go. Atlanta could choose to select a player with that No. 4 pick or they could choose to trade out of the No. 4 spot to earn more draft capital as a result.

Simulating the 2021 NFL Draft for the Atlanta Falcons if TE Kyle Pitts goes No. 4 overall

If the Falcons choose to select Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 overall pick…

• Round 1, No. 4: Kyle Pitts, TE (Florida)
• Round 2, No. 35: Najee Harris, RB (Alabama)
• Round 3, No. 68: Gregory Rousseau, EDGE (Miami)
• Round 4, No. 108: Andre Cisco, S (Syracuse)
• Round 5, No. 148: Walker Little, OT (Stanford)
• Round 5, No. 179: Marlon Williams, WR (UCF)
• Round 5, No. 182: Shakur Brown, CB (Michigan State)
• Round 6, No. 186: Elerson Smith, EDGE (Northern Iowa)
• Round 6, No. 218: Nick Niemann, ILB (Iowa)

We simulated this type of draft several times using The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine and looked at the most likely outcomes.

Once you get out of the first-round, the Falcons are most likely to take a running back or edge-rusher in the second-round following that Pitts selection.

In these particular simulations, the Falcons would’ve turned in a nice haul garnering RB Najee Harris in the second-round and then EDGE Gregory Rousseau in Round 3, who many consider to be first-round worthy. However, he was available in the third-round of five of these simulations and selected by the Falcons three times.

As you look at the bottom portion of the draft, the Falcons continue to address mostly the defensive side of the ball with the exception of a wide receiver and offensive tackle.