Alright, let’s talk about the Falcons’ 2021 draft. Man, what a year that was. I remember it like it was yesterday, sitting there, refreshing the draft tracker every two seconds, hoping for some good picks. We needed them, badly. The team finished 7-10, which wasn’t great, and it was clear we had some holes to fill.
We were 3rd in the NFC South, not exactly where you want to be. Our offense was okay, scoring 313 points, but the defense? Let’s just say it needed some work, giving up 459 points. I remember they kept showing stats like SRS and expected wins, but all I cared about was getting some solid players.
Round 1, Pick No. 4: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
First up, the No. 4 pick. Everyone was hyped about Kyle Pitts. A tight end from Florida, and let me tell you, this guy was a beast. I watched some of his college highlights, and the dude was catching everything thrown his way. I thought, “Okay, this could be a game-changer.” A tight end with that kind of potential? Yes, please.
Round 2, Pick No. 40: Richie Grant, S, UCF
Then came the second round, and we picked up Richie Grant, a safety from UCF. Now, I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about Grant at first. But then, I started digging around, checking out his stats. This guy was a ballhawk in college. I figured, “Alright, maybe our secondary is getting some help.” A playmaker on the back end is always a good thing.
Round 3, Pick No. 68: Jalen Mayfield, OT
Round three brought us Jalen Mayfield, an offensive tackle. Our offensive line needed some bolstering, so I saw this and thought, “Solid, we’re addressing the trenches.” Protecting the quarterback is crucial, and Mayfield looked like he could be a part of that solution.
So, those were our top three picks in the 2021 draft. Of course, there were other picks later on, but these were the ones that really stood out to me at the time. I spent hours going through articles and forums, reading up on these guys. I found that this guy started 9 of 13 games played (36 tackles, 8 TFL with 2.5 sacks in 2021.
- Pitts was the big name, and he definitely brought excitement.
- Grant was a bit under the radar, but I had a good feeling about him.
- Mayfield was a solid pick to strengthen the line.
Looking back, it’s always interesting to see how these picks panned out. Some live up to the hype, some don’t. But that’s the fun of the draft, right? The hope, the anticipation, the endless debates. The 2021 draft was definitely a memorable one for me, a Falcons fan through and through, always hoping for the best.