FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- If you're reading this and haven't read Scott Bair's Day 1 cluster, stop, go back and read it first. If you're reading this and you have read Scott's Day 1 cluster, great! Let's move on to Day 2.
The thought behind these articles is to give you a closer look at who could be available for the Falcons to take with their pick(s). This is not to say they target these specific players or that they'll even be picking at the spots specified in these articles. It's just to get you thinking about how things may fall throughout draft weekend.
So, yeah, that's my preamble. Here's who the Falcons could target with the No. 44 and 75 overall picks on Friday night.
The No. 44 overall pick, second round
WR Josh Downs (North Carolina) | Tyler Scott (Cincinnati)
Do you know who the starting quarterback for the Falcons is in 2023? Desmond Ridder. Do you know who Tyler Scott caught passes from in college? Desmond Ridder. Who's to say the Falcons wouldn't want to give Ridder a familiar face to throw to as a true starter in this league?
EDGE Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State) | Will McDonald IV (Iowa State) | Keion White (Georgia Tech)
CB D.J. Turner (Michigan) | Clark Phillips III (Utah)
IDL Mazi Smith (Michigan)
A couple Michigan guys could be up for grabs for the Falcons at No. 44 overall. Both helped Michigan's defense over the years in different ways, Smith holding down the interior and Turner holding down the secondary. Both have areas of which they can improve, but Smith's run stopping ability could catch Ryan Nielsen's eye while Jerry Gray could covet Turner's field smarts.
OG Steve Avila (TCU) | Cody Mauch (North Dakota State)
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The No. 75 overall pick, third round
RB Devon Achane (Texas A&M) | Tyjae Spears (Tulane)
If the Falcons don't pick up a running back in the first two rounds, perhaps they go after one at No. 75. If so, Achane and Spears could be on the board. Of the two, Spears may fit the Falcons offensive mold a little better. He's a bit bulkier than Achane, but Achane has an added strength as a pass catcher. If running back is the target in the third round and if both are on the board, it'd be interesting to see which third-round rusher the Falcons would prefer, if they like either at all.
WR Marvin Mims, Jr. (Oklahoma)
IDL Adetomiwa Adebawore (Northwestern) | Siaki Ika (Baylor)
I already wrote about Adebawore in my most recent 7-round mock draft. I won't reiterate what I wrote here, so my advice is to follow the link for my explanation as to why he's someone I'd be willing to draft.
CB Tyrique Stevenson (Miami, Fl.) | Julius Brents (Kansas State)
OG Chandler Zavala (NC State) | Anthony Bradford (LSU)
Someone who may have a connection with Atlanta's coaching staff already is Zavala. Current Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford was NC State's offensive line coach from 2016-2018, where Zavala played last year. Though the two never crossed paths as a player and coach at NC State, perhaps they met on the recruiting circuit or know mutual contacts. Sometimes in the later rounds of the draft, coaches are the ones who's gut feelings are followed with the picks, with decision-makers trusting the opinions of the position coaches and what they see. Is that enough for the Falcons to go after someone like Zavala? Maybe not, but focusing in on an interior lineman in the third round could be beneficial for the Falcons, who still need an answer at left guard.
LB Daiyan Henley (Washington State)
Take a look as the Atlanta Falcons put in that work for the 2023 season.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder #4 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Matt Hankins #30 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Jessie Bates does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Bud Dupree does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Darren Hall #34 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter #9 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Mykal Walker #3 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons long snapper Liam McCullough #48 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Joe Gaziano does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #37 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Jessie Bates does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo #7 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder #4 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Detail view of chains being handed off as the team does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Scotty Miller does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Drew Dalman #67 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Parker Hesse #46 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #37 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #47 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison #62 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
View as Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and defensive lineman Joe Gaziano do strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tackle Kaleb McGary #76 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
View of a huddle in front of Ticketmaster Studios as the team does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
