Falcons Draft Day 2 Recap: Grades, Analysis of Matthew Bergeron, Zach Harrison
The second night of the 2023 NFL Draft is officially in the books for the Atlanta Falcons.
Friday began with rumors swirling about the Falcons' interest in trading up at the end of the first round the night before and quickly shifted towards talk of moving up to the top of the second round.
And while the first few picks ultimately came and went with no movement from Atlanta, the trade talks gained substance, as the Falcons acquired pick No. 38 from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for Nos. 44 and 110.
Atlanta jumped directly in front of two division rivals - the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints - among others, with its sights set on Syracuse offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron.
A four-year starter and second-team All-ACC selection, Bergeron primarily played left tackle in college but is expected to kick inside and play left guard for the Falcons.
The 23-year-old Bergeron was a team captain during his final year at Syracuse and earned both academic and leadership awards throughout his tenure.
Now, the 6-5, 318-pound Bergeron will put the finishing touches on Atlanta's offensive line, filling the last vacancy present. From left to right, the Falcons appear poised to start Jake Matthews, Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary.
By following up the selection of Texas running back Bijan Robinson at No. 8 with Bergeron, Atlanta's committed to further strengthening its identity of winning the line of scrimmage - and continued that trend in the third round.
At pick No. 75, the Falcons selected Ohio State defensive end Zach Harrison, who carries outstanding physical traits at 6-5 1/2, 274 pounds with 36 1/4-inch arms and an 85 1/2-inch wingspan while clocking a 4.60 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Harrison, who turns 22 in August, was a five-star recruit out of Lewis Center, Ohio, and was rated as the nation's top defensive end by several outlets.
While at Ohio State, Harrison recorded 24 tackles for loss and 11 sacks across 46 games, 27 starts. This past season, Harrison was named a first-team All-Big 10 selection after logging eight tackles for loss and three and a half sacks with three forced fumbles and an interception.
A team captain in 2021, Harrison fits the mold of the big-bodied defensive ends that Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen had success with as a member of the New Orleans Saints.
SI's Draft Bible dubs Harrison a "very raw player that is currently on an upward trajectory," making him a fun project for Nielsen to work with moving forward after earning a reputation for being a strong player developer up front.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot feels as if the additions of Bergeron and Harrison make the team bigger, stronger and more powerful up front, all the while enforcing the aforementioned identity.
"We clearly value the lines of scrimmage," Fontenot said. "That's where games are won and lost."
For grades, the Bergeron selection earns an A-, as he's a ready-made impact player at a position of need, while Harrison gets a steady B-, as he comes with a higher degree of risk than is preferred for the No. 75 overall pick but also possesses plenty of upside to vastly outplay his draft position.
The Falcons are currently slated to have three picks in the draft's final day - No. 113 (fourth round) and Nos. 224 and 225 (seventh round).
By all accounts, it's been a productive first three frames for the Falcons, who've added arguably the draft's best offensive weapon in Robinson, an early starter in Bergeron and a high-ceiling pass rusher who could certainly level up under Nielsen's guidance.
Now, the challenge becomes finding roster-worthy pieces on the third day as Atlanta seeks to round out its roster and cap off an eventful offseason on a high note.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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