Over the last few months, we’ve heard a handful of names mentioned as possible Falcons draft targets. Justin Fields, Trey Lance, Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase have all been mocked to Atlanta multiple times. And while it’s fun to speculate during a long offseason, the team’s decision really comes down to the top remaining quarterback — Fields or Lance — and Pitts, the play-making tight end out of Florida.
Chase is on the radar as well, especially with Julio Jones potentially getting traded after June 1 for cap relief. However, Pitts is more of a TE/WR hybrid and his versatility is why he’s consistently named as the top non-QB prospect in this year’s draft class.
Head coach Arthur Smith, who served as the Titans tight ends coach for three years prior to becoming offensive coordinator, is rumored to be enamored with Pitts.
Another Falcons rumor being tossed around comes from ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, who write that both Smith and Falcons GM Terry Fontenot prefer to try and win now by retooling around veteran QB Matt Ryan.
“But new coach Arthur Smith and new general manager Terry Fontenot would prefer to try to build a winning team in the short term around Matt Ryan, and Blank ultimately decided he wouldn’t overrule the two guys he just hired to make these decisions for him,” write the two ESPN analysts.
“So while obviously things could change if San Francisco pulls a surprise at No. 3 or if someone offers the Falcons a major haul to move up to No. 4, Atlanta is expected to stay put and take Pitts, whom some would tell you is the best player in the entire draft.”
Is this a smokescreen? Are the Falcons trying to drive up the price of a potential trade? Only Fontenot and Smith know the answers to these questions, but fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out.
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