Falcons Day 3 Draft Recap: Analysis, Grades of Each Pick
The third - and final - day of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books, with the Atlanta Falcons adding a trio of players to their class.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith started the day by drafting Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III with pick No. 113 overall in the fourth round, bringing a unanimous All-American and one of the best players still on the board to Atlanta.
Phillips fell during the pre-draft process due to his lack of great size, as he stands just 5-9, 184 pounds, but he has tremendous ball skills, having recorded six interceptions this past season after leading the Pac-12 in passes defended the year before.
The 21-year-old Phillips may be relegated to playing nickel only at the next level, but he arrives in Atlanta with a ready-made skill set and tremendous intangibles.
"You can’t have too many defensive backs who can cover and take the ball away," Fontenot said. "He's a tough, competitive player who came from a tough program. He’s about what we’re about so we’re excited to add him to the group."
Phillips can realistically get on the field for a significant number of snaps during his rookie season and helps satisfy a long-term need at corner.
While undersized, Phillips' resume and traits speak for themselves, and the Falcons landed him at a strong value, all of which leads to an A grade.
After adding Phillips, Atlanta had a 111-slot gap between selections but was on the clock back-to-back in the seventh round.
With picks Nos. 224 and 225, the Falcons landed Alabama safety DeMarcco Hellams and South Carolina guard Jovaughn Wynn.
Both players, per Fontenot, fit Atlanta's bill of being smart, tough and competitive, while Smith noted to the experience each have playing under the spotlight.
"These guys were highly productive players in the SEC," Smith said. "Both of them played in big-time games, big-time environments. They show up week in and week out so we’re very excited to add both of them to the program."
The 6-1, 203-pound Hellams earned the nickname "Hitman" at Alabama for his ability to deliver crushing hits as a tackler. He led Alabama and finished sixth in the SEC in tackles this past season with 108, three of which came for a loss, and added seven pass breakups and an interception.
Hellams, 22, played in 54 games across four seasons in Tuscaloosa; he has experience on special teams, is a strong run defender and can play in the slot.
His physicality and competitiveness will give him a strong chance to make the roster out of training camp, which is largely the goal in Round 7, giving the Falcons a solid B grade.
The 6-2, 297-pound Gwyn is "obviously undersized," per Smith, and his 31 3/4-inch arms are cause for concern, but Atlanta's staff feels as if he can play both guard and center and lauded his leadership.
A 13-game starter at right guard for the Gamecocks, Gwyn earned second-team All-SEC honors and is viewed as a strong run blocker who's lateral quickness fits the Falcons' wide zone offense.
Atlanta's interior offensive line room appears set at the top but isn't particularly deep; second-round pick Matthew Bergeron will likely start at left guard, while Drew Dalman and Chris Lindstrom are penciled in at center and right guard, respectively.
Apart from Matt Hennessy, none of Atlanta's true reserve interior offensive linemen currently under contract saw significant action last year, although 2021 third-round pick Jalen Mayfield started as a rookie.
Nonetheless, the Falcons did have a need for depth and competition inside, and Gwyn brings the skill set and experience needed to provide exactly that. He's not viewed as a true value pick or a high upside player due to his size limitations, but the vision is clear with Gwyn, giving the selection a grade of C+.
Landing Phillips where the Falcons did was impressive, and both Hellams and Gwyn make sense late in the draft. The overall grade of Day 3 is a B+, and it's important to note that Atlanta previously used some of its picks in acquisitions for tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jeff Okudah, among others.
In all, it was another day where Fontenot and Smith proved their commitment to the core traits of being smart, tough and competitive; while not overly flashy, these are the pillars the franchise is trying to build upon.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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