Atlanta Falcons: Jalen Mayfield will be the week one starter at left guard

The Atlanta Falcons had their rookie camp and there is a lot of buzz around their new draft class. This draft class has a lot of excitement, but fans should be thrilled about the Jalen Mayfield selection.

Jalen Mayfield was selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft and should be the week one starter when the Atlanta Falcons host the Philadelphia Eagles. Many think Mayfield is a backup because he is listed as the second right tackle on ESPN’s depth chart for the Falcons.

Atlanta Falcons fans need to realize ESPN’s depth chart is not accurate

It has the correct players on the roster, but the depth chart is flawed. The first sign of this is ESPN has the Falcons running a 4-3 defense and not a 3-4 which is what defensive coordinator Dean Pees has historically coached.

On the official Falcons website, they have Dante Fowler listed as an outside linebacker and not a defensive end which is what ESPN has him listed as.

The same is for Jalen Mayfield, ESPN has him listed as a right tackle but on the Atlanta website, he is listed as an offensive lineman and not a tackle which is what Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary are listed as.

With this mistake in mind, ESPN’s depth chart of the Atlanta Falcons has Matt Gono listed as the starting left guard but Jalen Mayfield will win that job. Gono has been an awesome piece for the offensive line but his role on the team should be a swiss army knife and fill in if there are any injuries at guard or tackle.

Mayfield is the type of “bully” offensive lineman the Atlanta Falcons have been starving for. He has the same tough attitude that former Falcons offensive lineman Harvey Dahl had.

When Dahl played that was the best offensive line Matt Ryan had in his career.

The Atlanta Falcons need Jalen Mayfield to be an immediate impact player on the offensive line,  day one. If he is, that means the Atlanta Falcons drafted three day one starters in the draft to go along with Kyle Pitts and Richie Grant.