What do you think about the Falcons draft? I find their draft fascinating because of the parallels between their current situation and the 2018 Giants. The Falcons did not have as good of a pick as the Giants did in 2018, but they did have the opportunity to draft Fields or Jones at #4. So, it’s possible they would have drafted Wilson or Lance if available. They obviously would have drafted Lawrence. With that said, the situations are very similar:
-Matt Ryan will be 36 years old at the start of the 2021 season, Eli was 37 at the start of the 2018 season.
-Both the Giants and Falcons hired offensive minded coaches a few months prior to the draft (Shurmur & Smith),
-Both teams hired new general managers.
-The Giants were coming off 3-13 & 11-5 seasons prior; the Falcons are coming off 4-12 & 7-9 seasons prior.
-Lastly, Saquon & Pitts are rated as similar prospects. Sy had graded Saquon a 94 for example. Pitts is widely regarded as the best non QB in the draft.
Very strong similarities to the approach. Something to keep in mind too, the Falcons still have a few years of Brady in the division, yet they are opting for a win now approach.
Matt Ryan does not have 2 super bowl MVP’s under his belt either. So, are you surprised the Falcons did not opt QB this year?
+1
Also a big difference between the '18 NYG and current Atlanta team is that the '18 NYG defense had some decent players on it. Jenkins, Snacks, Vernon, Collins were each only 1 year removed from all pro seasons and a great season as a unit.
When was the last time the Atlanta defense did anything except cave in in the 4th Q?
We could have moved on from Eli much more easily than the Falcons can with Ryan as he was very cuttable after 2018.
Ryan seems more on a gradual decline (TDs, Comp %) and has a few more miles on him maybe.
But yeah, why wait until Ryan is completely toast?
Eli hit ... Thanks John Jerry! - ( New Window )
I don't think things will work out well for Atlanta either.
The other is ATL may only have gotten their 4th best choice at QB in this draft while the Giants would be no worse than their second best choice...big difference when you are talking the QB position of course.
Also wouldn't couch this as Atlanta actually thinking they can "win now" as much as they are just trying to improve their overall roster "more now". Adding Pitts, some OL and Defensive guys does that...
It is, and they tried very hard to trade down actually (which may be a difference vs NYG based on what you believe). But they opted for Pitts versus the offers.
Imv, nobody really in NFL took them seriously that they were going QB because of the Ryan contract so offers probably reflected some of that. And the fact that the next group of teams after them weren't going QB either so didn't have to come all the way up to #4 to get one.
The Falcons and especially the Bengals destroyed any chance we had at the big 3 receivers this year.
All these years and we still talk about Eli and the offense when more often than not the offense played pretty well or even very well.
Everyone is talking about the offense now too. And we will win 10 games because the defense is stacked, finally.
2019 they only scored 384.
No real running game. Ryan probably should have done a little better, but I don't think he held the birds back.