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Atlanta Falcons make splashy first round decision in this mock draft

By Joe Carlino

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Safety Richie Grant #27 from Central Florida of the American Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Safety Richie Grant #27 from Central Florida of the American Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Falcons
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 24: General manager Terry Fontenot of the Atlanta Falcons looks on prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

It’s time to attempt an Atlanta Falcons mock draft in advance of the 2022 NFL draft.

As the Pro Bowl has finally entered the rear (game needs to be overhauled), and with the Super Bowl almost upon us, the NFL Draft will be here sooner than we think. For the Atlanta Falcons, our team has been technically on the clock since the loss to the Buffalo Bills in January, which ended our (very minuscule) playoff chances.

Since then, general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith had to deal with, first off, replacing the running backs coach, then going to Mobile for the Senior Bowl, and now focus their attention on the NFL Scouting Combine and individual university pro days.

This draft, to some individuals, will truly solidify any opinions about this new regime. Will the team trade players/picks to gain more capital now? Will any veteran free agents come to Atlanta, thus making their draft selections more finite? Will Calvin Ridley still be a Falcon come training camp?

Let’s also not forget: Fontenot’s mantra has been to select the “best player available” whenever the Falcons are on the clock, because if someone takes a position they desperately need, it can be considered a “reach”, and therefore that draft pick gets put under an even bigger magnifying glass.

So without further ado, it’s time to take a swing at a Falcons mock draft, and we start with Atlanta’s first selection, which was conducted via usage by RiseNFLDraft’s free simulator.

*Cue the Roger Goodell approach to the podium and the background music*

“With the eighth pick, in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select…”