The Atlanta Falcons would do what any other NFL franchise would do in this scenario at No. 8.
Although the Atlanta Falcons seem more than comfortable in going with Desmond Ridder under center, they do have an ideal scenario in which they would take a quarterback at No. 8 in the 2023 NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Matt Miller reported that while the Falcons are doing their due diligence on this year’s quarterback draft class, they are comfortable with Ridder, last year’s third-round pick out of Cincinnati. While he got better with each start down the stretch for Atlanta, they would entertain taking either Bryce Young out of Alabama or C.J. Stroud out of Ohio State should of them one fall.
I think any team without a star franchise quarterback in-house would do the exact same thing.
Young and Stroud are probably going one-two. Maybe one falls to No. 3 or No. 4, but not to No. 8.
Even if Atlanta could conceivably trade up, I think the Falcons will go with the best player available route at No. 8, or potentially trade back a bit further to gain even more draft capital to work with.
Atlanta Falcons would draft either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud if they fell to No. 8
While I have reservations about Atlanta taking Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson at No. 8, the Falcons cannot really do wrong here, other than take Will Levis out of Kentucky with that particular draft selection. After trading for cornerback Jeff Okudah, I would envision the Falcons’ brass going with either a defensive front-seven playmaker or making a real run at Bijan Robinson.
Whether it be Robinson, Jalen Carter, Myles Murphy, Tyree Wilson, Lukas Van Ness, Nolan Smith or even Will Anderson Jr., Dirty Bird Nation should receive that No. 8 overall selection favorably. While they could go with an offensive lineman like Paris Johnson Jr. or Peter Skoronski, those picks might be met with mixed reviews. Frankly, Young and Stroud are the only two quarterbacks worth taking.
As a lifelong fan of this team, I think it is very important for the Falcons to remain methodical in their approach to building this team the right way. If an opportunity presents itself to get either Young or Stroud, I would understand making this highly-unlikely move. However, this was never going to be the draft class in which the Dirty Birds took a quarterback. At worst, it will be in 2024.
Overall, general manager Terry Fontenot has been calculated every step of the way. For the first time in years, the Falcons had cap space to work with. Fontenot did a masterful job in adding big-name players in NFL free agency. One would expect he, head coach Arthur Smith and the rest of the Falcons’ front office will find the right pieces to be adding in the 2023 NFL Draft in late April.
Ultimately, this season for the Falcons has always been about how good of a team they can surround Ridder with. If he continues to grow in year two out of Cincinnati, Atlanta may have drafted the next Dak Prescott, who they don’t have to pay big money to until 2026 if that were the case. If he stinks, and so does backup Taylor Heinicke, then Atlanta can take a quarterback in 2024.
If the latter happens, the Falcons could be in position to draft either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.