Looking back at the 2021 draft class, there is no way around the consistent mistakes the Atlanta Falcons made. This isn't exactly a hot take, with these decision-makers long jettisoned and the franchise hoping to finally turn the corner in the 2026 season with Matt Ryan now at the helm and new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Still, it cannot be helped but to look back and wonder what could have been with more aware drafting.
With this in mind, we're going to redraft the 2021 class, with the rules being that the selection must be on the board when Atlanta's number was called and the player being selected within that same round, with this exercise only going for the draft's first four rounds. Leading us to Atlanta's first decision and one that has raised a lot of eyebrows over the years.
Round One Pick #4 Kyle Pitts
There isn't any question that if the Falcons could hit rewind and do it over again, Pitts wouldn't be the name taken up to the podium. Pitts has had two solid seasons and endless inconsistency throughout his first five years in the league. While he remains with the team, there is no debating that Atlanta could've made a far more impactful selection; Ja'Marr Chase, Micah Parsons, and Patrick Surtain were all left on the board.
Leading us to our first redraft decision, and that would be the franchise bringing in Ja'Marr Chase to offset the loss of Julio Jones. Matt Ryan's final season was spent with Pitts as his primary target and undersized options at receiver. Perhaps Ryan gets a different exit if Chase is making the plays fans have grown used to seeing the star make for Joe Burrow's Bengals.
Verdict: Draft JaMarr Chase
Round Two Pick #40 Richie Grant
Falcons fans know the answer that is coming here, with Grant being a liability during his time with the franchise. The one thing that Grant could be relied on to do is find a way to make a mistake that costs the Falcons in a moment when the team needed a play most. The safety appears to be firmly out of the league after what was an extremely underwhelming career.
This leads us to look throughout the draft's second round to find the right fit for who the team should've brought in, and it is current Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey. The current star lineman would've solidified the position for years to come and yet again given Matt Ryan a better chance at going out in better fashion.
Verdict: Draft Creed Humphrey
Round Three Pick #68 Jalen Mayfield
Considering how Mayfield's NFL career played out and the heat the lineman caught during his time in Atlanta, there is no reason to pile on. Mayfield simply isn't a viable starting NFL option, and the Falcons opted to find this out the hard way. Finding a better option in the draft's third round isn't at all difficult, with a handful of obvious contributors continuing to play star roles throughout the league.
The two names still on the board that jump off the page are Nico Collins and current Falcon defender Divine Deablo. While drafting Collins would've been the obvious decision if Atlanta had foreseen what the playmaker would become at the time it would have been viewed as a reach, leading to the selection of the current Falcon.
Verdict: Draft Divine Deablo
Round Four Pick #108 Darren Hall
It is hard to believe the epic number of misses the Falcons had in this 2021 class. There is no case for keeping Hall, as the defender hasn't had the hoped-for impact and is yet another piece that simply hasn't lived up to expectations. Rewinding, there is one clear option for the Falcons that would've helped the franchise lock up an elite receiving duo that would've given the team a chance to save the end of Ryan's career.
Amon-Ra St. Brown was on the board and selected only four spots after the Falcons brought Hall into the Atlanta defense. If the franchise could rewind there is the ability to have two of the league's most talented receivers on the same roster.
Verdict: Draft Amon-Ra St. Brown
Round Four Pick #114 Drew Dalman
This is the first pick in the 2021 draft that was truly a hit for the Falcons. Atlanta found a capable starting center and paid a respectable price with a draft pick that couldn't have reasonably been used any better. While there are impact players remaining in the round, Dalman was a force on the inside and a needed stabilizer.
Verdict: Keep Drew Dalman
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