Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons GM addresses upcoming NFL Draft, the 'most uncertain' of his tenure

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 4/25/23

If you have no clue what's going to happen during the upcoming NFL Draft, you aren't alone. Neither does Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot.

Falcons GM Terry Fontenot about projecting the NFL Draft this year: “This is the most uncertain it has been, in my opinion.”
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) April 25, 2023

In a predraft news conference, Fontenot admitted that the 2023 NFL Draft is shaping up to be the most unpredictable of his tenure. NFL insider Ian Rapoport corroborated Fontenot's stance.

In years. https://t.co/MsxjtQbkgV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2023

Fontenot joined Atlanta as GM in 2021 after spending 18 seasons in the Saints front office. The Falcons have the No. 8 pick in this year's draft, and the front office has gone through multiple scenarios in its mock drafts.

Terry Fontenot says this could be the most unpredictable 1st rd. in his experience. Says the #Falcons talk through as many different scenarios as possible to be ready for what happens Nos. 1-7.

"When you're picking where we are, you've had those conversations" before draft day.
— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) April 25, 2023

To illustrate what little consensus there is among this year's top picks, Pro Football Focus' latest mock draft has four QBs — Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis — drafted with the first four picks. The 33rd Team's newest mock only has two QBs (Young, Stroud) going within the top 11 picks.

In February, Fontenot said the team "could definitely" draft a QB, but unless one of the top prospects is available at No. 8, the Falcons are expected to go after a cornerback or edge-rusher. Per OddsChecker, the most likely position of the team's first-round pick is at the defensive line (-112).

Something else to consider is Atlanta drafting running back Bijan Robinson. OddsChecker lists running back (+225) as the second-most likely position for the Falcons to draft.

Second-year pro Tyler Allgeier doesn't make the position a need, but if the organization is drafting the best available player on its big board at No. 8, it's in the realm of possibility that Robinson would be that guy.

A lot of things are possible for Atlanta, at least for a little while longer. We'll get answers, as will the Falcons, on Thursday night.

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