Falcons: QB succession plan and defensive depth were paramount in 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft for the Atlanta Falcons will be remembered for a garden variety of reasons. First and foremost, the selection of Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th pick was a head-scratcher for many. Secondly, five of the Falcons’ eight draft picks were used on the front seven. Three of the five picks were defensive tackles. Additionally, the Falcons did not draft anyone outside of college football’s Power Five conferences. Let’s make sense of this. During his opening press conference, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said, ‘If we had better quarterback play, I may not be standing here.’ He’s right. If Ridder had taken the Falcons to the playoffs last year, Arthur Smith would still be head coach. In response, Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins and drafted whom the brass believes will be the eventual successor in Penix.& “Here’s one of those times we’ve been able to stump the world and we’ve been talking about it for three days,” Morris said Saturday. “I hate for it to be the story of the draft and I know it will be.” Could the Falcons have drafted Spencer Rattler, Jordan Travis, Kedon Slovis, or Joe Milton III in the later rounds? Sure! Did...