Flick's Mailbag: Projecting Falcons Draft Board, Prospects of Interest
The Atlanta Falcons are at the halfway point between free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft, which is just over three weeks away.
With several notable free agent signings such as safety Jessie Bates III and defensive end Calais Campbell mixed in with coach Arthur Smith declaring Desmond Ridder the starting quarterback, the offseason has had no shortage of entertainment.
But still, questions remain - so let's do our best to answer them moving forward as we start a mailbag series at Sports Illustrated's Falcon Report!
Let's open it up ...
Is Atlanta 100% committed to Ridder meaning QB is completely off the table during the draft, or is the door still open with an Anthony Richardson visit scheduled? - @OnyekaLegacy
The Falcons' plan at quarterback certainly seems to roll with Ridder entering Week 1 - after all, Smith stressed it multiple times and recently signed signal caller Taylor Heinicke mentioned he's in Atlanta to be Ridder's backup.
Richardson will visit the Falcons in the coming days, but it's more likely they're trying to check boxes in an evaluation for future reference than truly illustrating interest.
The manner of the NFL Draft means to cross nothing off the list, but the Falcons fully expect Ridder to start in 2023 and re-evaluate the position again next offseason.
What do you believe is the Falcons big board right now? - @ATLTJ404
Removing quarterbacks from the equation, the top of Atlanta's draft board should feature something along the lines of Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson, Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Behind that trio, it's close between cornerbacks in Oregon's Christian Gonzalez and Illinois' Devon Witherspoon; the former is seemingly viewed higher in more league circles than the latter, but Witherspoon fits more of the mold of Atlanta's corners.
In this case, let's side with Gonzalez then Witherspoon, followed by Texas running back Bijan Robinson and Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski.
Positional value could knock Robinson down the board, but he's one of the draft's best pure football players and is ranked highly around the NFL.
Do you think the Falcons should trade down a little bit if they take Bijan (Robinson)? - @Codyjohnso42
Absolutely. As mentioned previously, Robinson is a fantastic talent - but the last running back drafted inside the top-20 was Saquon Barkley at No. 2 overall in 2018.
Granted, there hasn't been a player of Robinson's caliber since Barkley - but running backs have received small markets in free agency, as well, and big extensions haven't necessarily worked out at all times (see Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys).
With Robinson, it's important to remember that he's more than just a running back - he's a game-changing offensive player who finished his Texas career with 805 receiving yards.
The Falcons already have a stellar young runner in Tyler Allgeier, making Robinson a luxury pick ... but Atlanta doesn't necessarily have that luxury with issues existing on the defensive front, cornerback and left guard, among others.
Thus, if Robinson is truly the apple of the Falcons' eye, trading down several spots makes sense; the Eagles at No. 10 overall could be cause for concern, but general manager Howie Roseman has historically avoided running backs that early.
As such, trading down for Robinson becomes an intriguing idea - but should still rank behind addressing other options in the draft's opening frame.
Are there any prospects the Falcons are high on which most people don't know about? - @NFL_FalconsTD
A name to watch for the Falcons is Princeton receiver Andrei Iosivas, who was an All-American in both football and track for the Tigers.
Standing 6-3, 205 pounds, Iosivas checks the size box that Smith values so highly while bringing the explosive speed that was said to be a priority for Atlanta this offseason.
Further, the Honululu, Hawaii, native is a high character individual who's so committed to his education that he's still enrolled in classes at Princeton while working through the pre-draft process.
Be it on or off the field, Iosivas makes a lot of sense for the Falcons, and we're told that Atlanta is fond of the Ivy League star.
What pick at 8 would have the most impact in year 1? We know Falcons brass are patient with non first rounders but last two years have been instant impact guys. - @DerekCollins79
Should Anderson, Wilson or Carter fall, they're easy answers here - but under the assumption that all three go, Skoronski is a plausible solution.
With last year's preferred starting left guard in Elijah Wilkinson off to the Arizona Cardinals, the Falcons have a question mark in between left tackle Jake Matthews and center Drew Dalman.
After finishing 2022 ranked No. 3 in rushing at just under 160 yards per game, the Falcons have established an identity ... and adding Skoronski only strengthens that.
Beyond that, while the transition from tackle to guard may take some time, Skoronski's strong technique and footwork should make him a Day 1 starter as a rookie.
Have any questions for future mailbags? You can follow and submit questions to Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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