Tag: NFL draft class

Five Falcons rookies who improved their stock in preseason opener

Here are five rookies whose stock went up after Atlanta’s first preseason matchup.

The Falcons didn’t come away victorious in their preseason opener against the Titans, but even with a 23-3 loss, there were some rookies who helped their stock. With rosters being cut from 90 to 85 players on Tuesday afternoon, Friday’s game was solely dedicated to rookies and veterans on the roster bubble.

Here are five rookies whose stock went up after Atlanta’s first preseason matchup.

LOOK: Jaylen Waddle gets his Miami Dolphins jersey number

Former Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle received his official NFL jersey number today from the Miami Dolphins. He was drafted No. 6 overall.

Former Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was selected No. 6 overall in the 2021 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. Today, he received his jersey number.

Waddle was the second wide receiver selected in the draft, and the first of 10 Crimson Tide players taken.

In a social media post published by the Dolphins today, the new numbers were shown for both rookies and players who switched numbers from the 2020 season.

The former Alabama star will keep the number he’s worn since highschool, No. 17.

The number was free for the taking, as no one on the 2020 roster had No. 17.

Tua Tagovailoa will look to complete passes to Waddle, as he wears the same number he did when they played together at Alabama.

Projected cap hits for the 2021 Atlanta Falcons rookie class

How much of a cap hit will each Falcons rookie cost against the team in 2021.

Now that the NFL draft has been completed, the Falcons must find a way to clear even more cap space in order to sign their nine selections. In total, the 2021 NFL draft class will cost just north of $13 million. However, the effective cap hit is a more accurate indicator in determining the required space Atlanta will need.

Here is a quick rundown of which players are projected to get pushed out and the effective salary cap space the team needs to sign the 2021 NFL draft class.

Current Cap Space: $929,851
Player Real Cost Player Pushed Out (Cap Hit) Effective Cap Hit
Kyle Pitts $ 5,983,743 Chris Rowland ($660,000) $ 5,323,743
Richie Grant $ 1,503,343 Chris Slayton ($660,000) $ 843,343
Jalen Mayfield $ 946,912 Tyler Hall ($780,000) $ 166,912
Darren Hall $ 861,189 Willie Beavers ($780,000) $ 81,189
Drew Dalman $ 854,181 Greg Dortch ($780,000) $ 74,181
Ta’Quon Graham $ 747,653 Under Top-51 Cut-Off $ 0
Ade Ogundeji $ 720,039 Under Top-51 Cut-Off $ 0
Avery Williams $ 720,039 Under Top-51 Cut-Off $ 0
Frank Darby $ 711,123 Under Top-51 Cut-Off $ 0
Total $ 13,048,222 Total $ 6,489,368

Starting with rookie Ta’Quon Graham, his projected cap hit ($ 747,653) is less than that of Delrick Adams, who has a cap hit of $780,000. Thus, everyone picked after Graham, including Graham, will fall below the top-51 cut-off line.

Atlanta has recently discussed moving Julio Jones as a way to free up cap space. Finding a trade partner after June 1 will save the Falcons $15.3 million, but will also carry a dead cap hit of $15.5 million in 2022. This is something the team wants to avoid.

However, while trading Jones will create the most space, it isn’t the only way in which the team can save funds. As I highlighted before the draft, extensions and restructures are possible scenarios in which the Falcons can get under the cap.

Furthermore, eventually the team will need to expand to the seasonal 53-man roster cut-off in which another $1.56 million will need to be added on for both Delrick Adams and Tony Brook-James. But that’s just the bare minimum. If the Falcons can’t find a way to offer an extension to either Jones or Grady Jarrett, then trading Jones could be their only option.

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