A place that was unstable not too way back has as soon as once more change into a necessity for the Atlanta Falcons with the departure of Drew Dalman.
Ryan Neuzil crammed in valiantly in 2024, however he wasn’t adequate at his job to be thought of irreplaceable. The group giving him the bottom tender attainable is proof of that. If Atlanta has the chance to improve on him, they need to.
Reducing corners on the offensive line isn’t a very good technique, and the Falcons must set Michael Penix up proper heading into his first 12 months as a full-time starter. Terry Fontenot has elected to bypass the improve choices through free company—a transfer I agree with if the Falcons can discover a long-term possibility within the draft.
Traditionally, facilities don’t price numerous draft capital. Dalman was a fourth-round choose, and I consider the group can discover one other Dalman on this draft. They may additionally spend a premium on a few prospects that would take this line to heights Dalman by no means might.
Thomas Perry, Middlebury (Late Day 3)
Your native draft junkies’ favourite heart prospect. Perry performed DIII soccer however has D1 play energy.
The left guard turned heart prospect has been getting ready for the draft with OL guru Duke Manyweather. Manyweather has been boasting about Perry’s energy, and I noticed it firsthand on the East-West Shrine Bowl as he stonewalled Georgia Bulldogs in cross rush drills. Off the sector, Perry’s weightlifting popularity is famous; he’s generally known as “The Tank” within the health club, he research molecular biology and arithmetic, and he comes from a household of adorned Ivy League athletes and intellectuals. It’s the dream background profile from Madden 2006’s Famous person Mode.
Been cool to see the short enchancment from D3 Middlebury IOL Thomas Perry. Has stacked higher reps every day. Solely began coaching for heart a couple of month in the past. Spectacular flexibility, sturdy core, good grip energy
Obtained a “Good shit, Middlebury!” from the DL after this pic.twitter.com/bIZtC2BlYW
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 27, 2025
The expertise stage he confronted and his adjustment to the league’s pace are considerations. Nonetheless, with the nod of approval from a revered member of the OL neighborhood (Manyweather is selective together with his purchasers) and his sturdy displaying on the all-star occasion, followers shouldn’t be overly involved.
Quinn Meinerz—who the Falcons handed on in favor of Jaylen Mayfield—is a current instance of a DIII soccer participant overcoming the expertise stage discuss, and Perry seems to be like the subsequent in line.
Drew Kendall, Boston Faculty (Day 3)
Kendall would bore the heck out of Arthur Smith. Nothing about Kendall’s recreation jumped out at me, however that works each methods. He’s a constant participant who hardly ever makes errors. His ft are his best asset, making him a perfect candidate for the Falcons zone-based run scheme.
He doesn’t have a lot energy, however he reveals a very good understanding of leverage and blocking angles and has sufficient athleticism to run pulling ideas. He’s a excessive IQ participant who’s at all times in place, and that’s the baseline for a high quality NFL beginning heart.
Like Dalman, Kendall is somewhat underweight, and his shorter arms make it simpler for his opponents to assault him in cross safety. Nonetheless, enjoying subsequent to Chris Lindstrom helps, and the 23-year-old would possibly want a 12 months to get stronger like Dalman did. Because it stands, Kendall might push Neuzil for the job and begin establishing that chemistry with Penix and the veteran line early.
Jonah Monheim, College of Southern California (Early Day 3)
Monheim is my favourite possibility among the many Day 3 projected prospects. He provides positional versatility (begins at RT, LT, and RG) and would instantly be the very best pass-protecting heart on the group. Monheim kicked inside this 12 months after being a profession sort out, a transfer different prospects will try and make of their rookie seasons. This transfer boosted Monheim’s inventory and saved groups’ time.
Monheim’s anchor is spectacular for an inside participant and would hold Penix good and cozy within the pocket. He isn’t an distinctive run blocker, however he has the ft and motion abilities to reach a zone-based scheme.
He’ll must change into a extra environment friendly blocker and refine his angles, however with tutelage from Dwanye Ledford, I’m assured Monheim might get to a excessive sufficient stage as a rookie to win the job and by no means look again.
Jared Wilson, College of Georgia (Late Day 2)
Wilson has been using a excessive for the reason that NFL Mix, the place he posted the fifth-fastest 40 time by an OL since 2003. Wilson might need the RAS rating of a first-rounder, however he doesn’t have the tape. Wislon’s inexperience often reveals up on movie, however the athletic flashes are there. He can boogie in house, simply climbing to the second stage and washing out linebackers. He can look dominant when he wins the leverage battle, and what he provides as a run blocker feels limitless.
He isn’t probably the most constant in cross safety, however this was additionally his first 12 months as a starter, so growing higher method will include time and reps. He does have a very good anchor to work with, and since he’s so inexperienced, the ceiling shouldn’t be near tapped. Had Wilson stayed one other 12 months, he might have been a first-round lock; that’s how particular he’s as an athlete.
Wilson is projected to go afterward Day 2, the place it’s uncommon to seek out athletes like him. The Falcons had a number of employees members in attendance at Geogia’s professional day, and so they doubtless saved tabs on Wilson from the second he walked into the ability.
Gray Zabel, North Dakota State (Day 1 – Early Day 2)
Zabel was a sort out for the Bison, however on the Reese’s Senior Bowl, he took snaps at heart and guard and dominated the competitors. Zabel is probably the most pro-ready offensive lineman on this checklist, and he might give a group stable reps at any place, however the inside is the place he’ll shine. Zabel is a technically sound participant who blocks by means of the whistle. He’s a incredible match for the Falcons scheme and would enable them to sprinkle in additional duo and energy ideas.
North Dakota State OL Gray Zabel was spectacular yesterday. Not solely did he dominate 1:1s, however he was climbing, discovering work, and driving by means of the whistle effectively in groups as effectively. pic.twitter.com/j8tWGAi4tI
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) January 29, 2025
His sturdy first step permits him to pack a punch and get to the second stage in a rush. The dearth of size reveals up on movie, however that’s additionally as a result of he’s a sort out going through longer opponents, which gained’t be as massive of a problem as soon as he’s enjoying inside. Zabel provides the group safety at guard shifting ahead as effectively if Bergeron can’t take the subsequent step or elects to go away after his rookie deal is up.
Followers might have trauma from the Mayfield expertise, however these prospects are by no means alike. Zabel has extra expertise and technical refinement as a prospect. He would even be the second NDSU OT in the previous few years to make this transfer. Cody Mauch had a formidable Senior Bowl efficiency, and the Buccaneers cashed in on it. Atlanta might look to do the identical.
Marcus Mbow, Purdue (Day 1)
That is the place issues might get attention-grabbing. Mbow is likely one of the most fascinating prospects on this draft class. He’s undersized as a sort out, however his motion abilities are so elite that some scouts nonetheless consider he can work there. I noticed Mbow take snaps inside on the Senior Bowl. I didn’t get the sense he had the required energy to play guard, however heart is a unique story.
Mbow can be the very best athlete on the road if drafted right now; there isn’t an angle he can’t make as a run blocker. He already has a stable anchor and sometimes beats cross rushers to the spot. His arms are at all times energetic, and he delivers a very good preliminary punch. He wants to enhance his pad stage, and his method could be sloppy at instances general. He isn’t the strongest participant proper now, however he’s additionally a real junior who will flip 22 in the summertime, so he’ll proceed so as to add muscle. Mbow looks like a transfer that may come out of nowhere, and that’s the Falcons specialty.
Video games are gained and misplaced within the trenches, and if there’s a deficiency in its building, groups will reap the benefits of it. Inside stress causes a novel problem to Penix, particularly as a result of it forces him to roll out as an alternative of step up when going through outdoors stress. Penix’s on-the-move throwing has been a weak spot in his recreation relationship again to the College of Washington.
If the Falcons need to give him the very best likelihood at success, they’ll want to make sure that the inside line is buzzing. In any other case, they might wreck their subsequent potential franchise quarterback earlier than he can develop.
