Atlanta Falcons 2020 NFL Draft grades: A lesson in not letting desperation control the board

Clemson Tigers - A.J. Terrell (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Clemson Tigers - A.J. Terrell (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Jaylinn Hawkins #6 of the California Golden Bears reacts after intercepting a pass by Nathan Elliott #11 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at California Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Jaylinn Hawkins #6 of the California Golden Bears reacts after intercepting a pass by Nathan Elliott #11 of the North Carolina Tar Heels at California Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Best Pick: Jaylinn Hawkins, S, Cal

While Atlanta may have muffed their first-round selection (it’s not bad, just not good), they made up for it in the fourth round with Hawkins. He lived in the shadow of the other Cal safety, Ashtyn Davis who was selected by the New York Jets more than 60 picks before Hawkins, but that’s to the Falcons benefit. Hawkins is incredible value in the fourth round and will help improve a secondary that has been in desperate need of that in the past few years.

Plus, in a division that already had Drew Brees and now has Tom Brady, investing in a safety who can develop into a starter isn’t a bad way to polish off your draft class.

Worst Pick: A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson

There’s a decent chance that Terrell turns into a solid contributor on the Falcons defense, but this was a desperation pick. Atlanta has needed secondary help but there were players that could have been had in the second round who would have filled the need, while the 16th pick could have been used on one of the handful of top pass rushers who were on the board when Terrell was selected (Imagine a draft where the Falcons walked away with K’Lavaon Chaisson and either Trevon Diggs or Kristian Fulton).

Not a terrible pick, but not the value Atlanta could have otherwise gotten.

Grade: C-