Falcons GM Terry Fontenot, Coach Arthur Smith at Georgia Pro Day
Amidst a busy, heavy-spending legal tampering period before the official start of NFL free agency, the Atlanta Falcons' decision makers still have an eye towards the 2023 NFL Draft.
The back-to-back national champion Georgia Bulldogs held their Pro Day on Wednesday morning ... and all 32 teams had personnel present, perhaps none more than Atlanta.
According to Fox 5's Miles Garrett, Falcons coach Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator Dave Ragone, defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford and multiple scouts were all in attendance for the post-Combine showcase.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot was also reportedly there but was not physically seen.
Among the players who participated are defensive tackle Jalen Carter, outside linebacker Nolan Smith, offensive tackle Broderick Jones, tight end Darnell Washington, cornerback Kelee Ringo, safety Christopher Smith II and quarterback Stetson Bennett.
Nielsen spent time closely watching Carter and Nolan Smith, the two Georgia players most commonly linked to the Falcons in mock drafts.
The Falcons drafted a pair of Bulldogs on Day 3 last year in left guard Justin Shaffer and tight end John FitzPatrick, neither of whom played a regular season snap.
Speaking at the NFL Combine, Fontenot praised the talent across the state of Georgia while also recognizing the talent on the Bulldogs' roster.
"Yeah, it's good players from the Georgia Bulldogs here," Fontenot said. "The team, Georgia, is doing really well. There's really good prospects here that we're excited about."
When asked about Bennett at the end-of-season press conference, Smith pointed out a solid campaign that featured finishing No. 4 overall in the Heisman Trophy voting.
"Got to give him a lot of credit," Smith said. "(He's) won a lot of games."
Bennett finished his career with a 29-3 record as a starter and is now viewed as a late-round draft prospect.
The Falcons aren't expected to be in the market for a signal caller following the free agency acquisition of Taylor Heinicke, who's poised to compete with last year's third-round pick Desmond Ridder for the starting job.
There are, however, several Bulldogs who make sense in Atlanta.
Despite rumored off-field concerns, Carter ranks amongst the draft's best players, and if he falls to No. 8 overall, would be an excellent fit alongside Grady Jarrett, Ta'Quon Graham and newly signed David Onyemata on the interior defensive line.
Nolan Smith rose up draft boards following a standout Combine in which he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash; his ability to rush off the edge and also play in space makes him an intriguing option - and ESPN's latest mock draft had him going to the Falcons.
There's also the 6-7, 260-pound Washington, who's highly athletic and can really block, forming the profile of a well-rounded player who could catch the eyes of Arthur Smith, a former tight end's coach.
It's important to note that the Falcons sending a heavy contingent to a local Pro Day isn't new around the league; the Chicago Bears did the same thing Tuesday with nearby Northwestern.
But nonetheless, Fontenot, Smith and staff have their eyes on at least a few Bulldogs - and could keep adding to the pipeline come April's draft.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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