Atlanta Falcons 2024 NFL Draft Guide: What you need to know

Attention, Falcons supporters! Prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft with exclusive insights and analysis about your team.

Peruse the following information to understand Atlanta’s anticipated selections, positional requirements, selection history, GM draft notes, and more, all provided by the NFL’s research team.

And don’t forget to tune in on Thursday, April 25th at 8:00 p.m. ET for live coverage of the draft on NFL Network and NFL+.

Atlanta Falcons Draft Overview

2023 record: 7-10
Third in NFC South; missed playoffs

Falcons 2024 draft picks (8):

Round 1, pick 8
Round 2, pick 43
Round 3, pick 74
Round 3, pick 79 (acquired from Jacksonville Jaguars in Calvin Ridley trade)
Round 4, pick 109
Round 5, pick 143
Round 6, pick 187
Round 6, pick 197 (acquired from Cleveland Browns in Deion Jones trade)

Falcons team needs (according to Chad Reuter): Edge, Cornerback, Defensive Tackle, Safety, Quarterback

Projected Falcons first-round selection, via NFL.com draft analysts:

(See all projections at Mock Draft Central)

Falcons 2024 Opponents

Home

Steelers, Seahawks, Chiefs, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Saints, Buccaneers, and Panthers.

Away

Commanders, Broncos, Eagles, Vikings, Panthers, Raiders, Saints, Buccaneers.

Falcons Notable Activity Tracker (2024 offseason):

Falcons Decision Makers

Owner and Chairman: Arthur Blank

President and CEO: Rich McKay

General Manager: Terry Fontenot

Head Coach: Raheem Morris*

* New to role

Terry Fontenot

Fontenot is about to begin his fourth season as the General Manager of the Falcons.

Fontenot is the first Black General Manager in the history of the Falcons.

In his first three seasons as GM (2021, 2022, 2023), ATL recorded a 7-10 record each year.

This is the 6th consecutive season that ATL has finished with 7 or fewer wins.

Falcons Draft Notes

Terry Fontenot Era (Since 2021)

– 23 total players selected (12 offense, 11 defense)
– 1 Pro Bowler selected (TE Kyle Pitts)

All three 1st Round selections were among the top-8 overall.

Has utilized all three first-round picks on offensive skill players: running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts.

Fontenot, as the General Manager of ATL, has made three draft picks within the top eight overall in his three drafts.

In 2023, Running Back Bijan Robinson, who was the 8th overall pick, led Atlanta with 1,463 scrimmage yards.

Wide Receiver Drake London, who is ranked 8th overall in 2022, has led Atlanta with 1,771 receiving yards since 2022.

Since 2021, TE Kyle Pitts, who was the 4th overall pick in 2021, has led the Atlanta Falcons with 2,049 receiving yards.

During the three seasons (2021-23) that Fontenot has been the general manager, the Atlanta Falcons have had four different starting quarterbacks.

Matt Ryan has 17, Demond Ridder also has 17, Marcus Mariota has 13, and Taylor Heinicke has 4.

During the 2022 offseason, Fontenot traded Matt Ryan to IND.

In 2022, DE DeAngelo Malone was selected and received overall ranking #82.

Over 2 NFL seasons, Malone started no games and achieved 1.0 sack.

In March 2024, the Falcons dealt Desmond Ridder, their 3rd-round pick in 2022, to the Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore.

Ridder had an 8-9 win-loss record with 14 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and an 84.1 passer rating across his two seasons with Atlanta.

As the General Manager of Atlanta, Fontenot has utilized a top-75 overall pick on each offensive and defensive position, with the exception of offensive tackle, interior defensive line, and cornerback. Notably, Atlanta has not chosen an offensive tackle in any round since 2021.

Highest drafted Falcons player by position, since 2021

Last time Falcons picked each position in first round:

Compiled by the NFL Research team. All data current as of April 16, 2024.