- 23 hours ago
Andy and Randy talk about the additions made to the Atlanta Falcons roster in the 2026 NFL Draft and how there are some Day 3 selections that they feel can be counted on for production in their rookie seasons.
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00:00But I thought the Falcons, you know, you look at some of the undrafted free agents,
00:04go Cass Jones.
00:05Can't leave him alone.
00:06Yeah, you know what?
00:09Might be third and four, and you need somebody to pick up in protection.
00:12Get him out there.
00:13Yeah, I got Cass Jones up in the building, man.
00:15But I know that, I mean, we've been talking about this dude because we love him
00:19since he was a freshman, Harold Perkins Jr.
00:20He said it.
00:21And because we talked about him, because remember his freshman year,
00:24he was just like, damn.
00:25Yeah, his freshman year at LSU, he had seven and a half sacks.
00:27He had 39 solo tackles, four passes defensed, an interception, three forced fumbles.
00:33He was unbelievable.
00:34He was an absolute one-man record.
00:36Like, if you would have told me after, because obviously you have to go back, right?
00:39You have to go back.
00:39He was a true freshman.
00:40Right.
00:40You have to go back to school.
00:43You could have probably got me to talk myself into him being a top 15 pick.
00:48Easily.
00:49After his freshman year.
00:50Easily.
00:50I was like, I mean, he's another one of those LSU freaks.
00:53Like, they have him from time to time.
00:54And then Brian Kelly came in and just took him off the edge, made him do a whole bunch
00:59of different stuff.
00:59And he only played a handful of games his junior year because he got hurt.
01:05And then he had four sacks last year.
01:07But, I mean, his numbers steadily declined year after year, partially because of injury,
01:11but partially because of the way they used it.
01:12Yeah.
01:13And I think, you know, it's one of those things when you look at what the Falcons want
01:17to do defense.
01:19They like safeties converted to linebackers.
01:22They want guys to be able to run.
01:24Want guys to be able to coverage.
01:26All these type of things.
01:26Cover all this ground.
01:28He's going to be more of a, if he makes the team, because he's still in the sixth round
01:32pick and all those different things.
01:33But, yeah, he's going to be a specialty rusher.
01:37Specialty pack.
01:37He's not big enough to be an every-down player in the NFL as far as an outside pass rusher
01:42or
01:42outside linebacker.
01:43So, they're going to find different things from Kendall Daniels, big, versatile guy.
01:48Rangy, one of those things that Ulbricht likes as far as the linebacker position.
01:52So, to do all that.
01:53They got the D-tackle, the kid out of your school, finally.
01:55Because I was going back over yesterday.
01:58I was like, damn, so we won first round D-tackle?
02:00Yeah.
02:01And that was back in of the first round.
02:03Peter Woods, right?
02:03Yeah.
02:04Yeah.
02:04To Kansas City.
02:05I was like, damn.
02:07Well, Christian Miller starts dropping.
02:09Yeah.
02:09He goes to New Orleans.
02:10And then you look at it.
02:10Lee Hunter was there.
02:12He goes, I think, the next pick after the Falcons took Avion Terrell.
02:15Yeah, no, the defensive tackles definitely fell.
02:18And I think part of that had to do with just not a ton of them were sack guys.
02:22Yeah.
02:22Like, a lot of them were run stoppers.
02:24And that's what the Falcons need, really.
02:25But, yeah, I mean, they get Ontario Thompson out of Washington.
02:29He only played there one year.
02:30Bounced around.
02:30Played at a bunch of different schools.
02:32He's super athletic.
02:34He's like 3'10".
02:35Ran a 4'7", which is probably not going to come in that handy at defensive tackle.
02:39But he's moving.
02:40Just a sign of how freakish he is athletically.
02:43I just remember, you know, I mean, watching all the games last year, he was a guy that
02:46maybe, like, once every couple games, you'd be like, oh, jeez, what a play.
02:51And then he wouldn't do anything for a while.
02:53Right.
02:54And then he'd pop again.
02:55So, yeah, I mean, he's pretty raw.
02:56Hopefully they can get him in here and get, you know, get him some technique and get him
02:59coached up a little bit.
03:00But, I mean, a six-round draft pick.
03:02So, you're betting on the traits.
03:05Yeah, betting on the traits.
03:06And you're betting on the fact that you ain't got a lot of those guys.
03:08You don't have a lot of 300-pound interior guys if you're talking about the Falcons.
03:11You know, you lost two of them.
03:13You know, so you just don't have that girth that we were talking about that they're going
03:17to need inside.
03:18I mean, they are small, speed, penetrating defense.
03:21That's what they are.
03:22And so, but you got to eventually, you got to get somebody with some meat on them.
03:26But I think that when you go back and look at, you know, Avion Terrell, we talked about
03:31him earlier.
03:32Day one starter.
03:33Or if not starter, he's going to be one of your first three corners.
03:36Yeah.
03:36Even if he's a nickel guy.
03:38Yeah, he might play inside.
03:39Yeah, he's going to play inside.
03:40You got that right there.
03:41Zachariah.
03:42Zachariah's going to be, and the thing with it is it's that, you know, because of what you
03:46did this offseason as far as the receiver position, he can, you know, because he's your
03:51day one returner.
03:52We definitely understand that he's your day one returner and all those different things.
03:55But they got to get, and this is a word that's going to be thrown out a lot.
03:59I think we need to take a count of how many times Joe Patrick says it on Thursday when
04:04we have them on.
04:04Value.
04:05Value.
04:05Oh, value.
04:06Yeah, the value word.
04:07Yeah.
04:07You got to try to find some value.
04:08Yeah, you got to try to find some value.
04:09Drinking game.
04:09The Falcons drinking game from now until the season starts.
04:12The value.
04:12Every time Joe Patrick says value.
04:14The value and the pick.
04:15You're going to have to go to rehab before the season starts if that's the case.
04:17But he's explosive, Andy.
04:19He's something that they lack.
04:21Yes, that's right.
04:22They lack the explosiveness.
04:23We talked about him on Friday, right?
04:25Yes.
04:25The possibility that he would be there.
04:26We talked about him in the second round.
04:28Yeah.
04:28And then for them to get him in the third round, yeah, he's exactly what they haven't
04:33had, is that speedy wide receiver that you can get the ball in his hands and he can make
04:36plays after the catch.
04:37And like you said too, Randy, like he can be a special teams guy.
04:40Yes.
04:41The Falcons haven't had anything from the return game in years.
04:45Like maybe it was that one year.
04:47Avery, right?
04:47Yeah.
04:48Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:49Yeah, yeah, Avery Williams.
04:51Yeah, but then he got hurt.
04:52Right.
04:52And then, you know, that's now been a couple of years.
04:54He had one year where he was really good.
04:56But other than that, like for the last decade, special teams return wise, punt returns and
05:00kick returns have been pretty bland.
05:03Yeah.
05:04Pretty cool if Zachariah Branch could get back there and be a playmaker as far as that goes
05:08too, and just add one more dimension to what you can do.
05:10Yeah, because Andy, it'd be, oh, you get two-yard game, two-yard game, the next you know, it's
05:14out the door for 70.
05:15Yeah.
05:15You know, that's the ability that this young man has.
05:17I know T.J.
05:18who's been out and said some things because he'd been knowing him since he was in high
05:21school, talking about how just dynamic he was.
05:24I guess USC, think he got, was in that mode of, I got to gain some weight and it took
05:28away,
05:28so he's still fast as hell.
05:30But it looked like, and he was saying that, it looked like he was back to Zachariah pre-USC,
05:36which you thought he would be in the Georgia offense.
05:38And they're going to get, he's going to get opportunities to run down.
05:40I know it's a big thing we talked about before the draft, when my man Steve Smith talked about
05:43the route tree and all those different things.
05:45He don't run what you run, he don't run what you call, you know, so it's going to be interesting
05:48how they implement him into this offense because he's got a guy, he's got a guy that's going
05:53to try to get him at least with returns close to 10 touches a game because he's just that
05:58dynamic of a, of an offensive guy.
06:00Yeah.
06:00He's also, if Tua's the quarterback, which, you know, we'll see how it plays out.
06:05But if I'm betting today, I'm betting Tua's the starting quarterback week one, that's a good
06:10quarterback for Zachariah Branch to play with.
06:12Getting the ball.
06:12Because he's going to put it out in front of you.
06:14I mean, he's such an, such an accurate passer.
06:16He's going to get you the ball on the move in space and you're going to be able to, I
06:20mean, I know Tyreek Hill is the name that keeps getting mentioned.
06:23That would be awesome if that's what it is.
06:25But, you know, Tua and Tyreek had some nice moments.
06:28Yeah, they did.
06:28You know.
06:28But with his speed, Tua, like you said, Tua will put the ball and he's still top speed
06:33because of, because of the accuracy that, that, that Tua plays with.
06:37So that, that's going to be a, a, a matchup, a match that, you know, we'll, we'll see how
06:42it goes.
06:42But I mean, I love the pick when they picked him.
06:44So, uh, congrats to all the dogs that got drafted.
06:47You know, I saw that, you know, later on you had, um, Dylan Bell, he's going to the Vikings.
06:53Obviously, uh, who's, which one's going to, uh, to Cincinnati?
06:56Uh, Kobe Young's going to Cincinnati.
06:58And, uh, so it makes, some guys are going to get an opportunity on some teams, on some
07:02camps to go out there and, uh, and try to contribute and make the team.
07:05So, but yeah, so good for all, all, all those young men.
07:08Falcons offense is kind of interesting now.
07:10I mean, obviously injuries are, are part of it.
07:13You got to stay healthy, but if you're just on paper, look at it, what this offense from
07:17a skill position has, it's pretty good.
07:20Like Drake London's awesome when he's healthy, obviously, um, he wasn't healthy last year
07:26for a lot of the season.
07:27And Kyle Pitts is, I mean, last year statistically was one of the three best tight ends in football.
07:32It was.
07:33D. John Robinson's the best running back in the NFL.
07:35I mean, they, they have some talent, man.
07:37Yeah.
07:37They do.
07:38And now you, I mean, who, who knows what between Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus and,
07:42and, and, uh, you know, some of the down the depth chart guys that they got, but Zachariah
07:46Branch, I know he's going to be a rookie, so it's hard to put too much on him, but is
07:49an
07:49explosive player.
07:50Like, and you already have Drake London, so he's not, and Kyle Pitts.
07:53So guys are going to be in front of him in terms of targets.
07:55It's like, that's pretty, pretty intriguing group of skill position guys.
07:59Now you don't know who the quarterback is.
08:00You don't know who the quarterback is.
08:01Well, I think, you know, when you look at the levels of it, I mean, you got the big body
08:04receiver that the big X or whatever you want to put him at in, in the Drake London.
08:09Dotson could play.
08:10Yeah.
08:10Dotson can play.
08:11Uh, and then we know how Zaccheaus, you know, we have fun with him about, you know, everybody
08:15said, oh, that's the reason the offense fell off in Washington and in Chicago because Zaccheaus
08:18left.
08:19But I mean, he's a guy that's got some familiarity, has some ability.
08:22And then obviously you throw this young man in there.
08:23You already mentioned about Kyle Pitts in there.
08:26I mean, yeah, they got an opportunity to be really good offensively, in my opinion.
08:31Yeah.
08:31But it's all about the quarterback.
08:32It is all about the quarterback.
08:33Yeah, it's all about the quarterback position.
08:35Of course.
08:35And that damn right tackle.
08:36Can he, can he not, can you, can you not be in the negative, you know, when you're on
08:41the field because you're either, you're not on the ball, not on the ball, meaning you're
08:45trying to cheat your set, or you're jumping outside.
08:48You know?
08:49I mean, that's what it is.
08:51It's so crazy.
08:52Like, obviously, look, he's played enough games to her.
08:54That's a reasonable.
08:55Yeah.
08:56Yeah.
08:56Like, that's totally right.
08:57You're not making it up.
08:59But it's just wild that this dude's never played a game for the Falcons before.
09:01Like, and as long as the right tackle doesn't false start every play.
09:04Yeah.
09:04Because that's what he does.
09:05Yes.
09:05That's what he's done for his entire career.
09:07He's not on the line.
09:08Yeah.
09:08Or he's, or he's kicking out too damn soon.
09:10And he, I'm telling you, you, you've mentioned it when they first signed him.
09:13Like, he, he, he jumps the count.
09:16Oh, yeah.
09:16Yeah, he jumps, he jumps the snap.
09:17And he already lines up.
09:18Yeah.
09:19Far back.
09:19Exactly.
09:20So, it'll be, it's going to be some, uh.
09:22But you know what?
09:23That's a good quick start to protect these left-handed quarterbacks' blind sides, Randy.
09:27Yeah.
09:27If you're going to have a couple left-handed quarterbacks, have a right tackle who's, you know,
09:32who's back there.
09:33He's cheating.
09:35You're not cheating.
09:36You're not trying.
09:36Exactly.
09:36And if they're not calling it, who cares?
09:38Who cares?
09:38Keep doing it.
09:39Yeah.
09:39Keep doing it.
09:40But, uh, yeah, I know they have some ability on, on the defense.
09:43I mean, on this offensive side.
09:44You know.
09:45They really do.
09:45I mean, when you look at it as far as the offensive line is going to be steady.
09:50You know, I know losing McGarry is a big deal.
09:52But, you know, I'm not saying that Taylor's not a comparable or capable right tackle because
09:58he is.
09:58I'm just saying that he has his flaws, but everybody else does too.
10:01But you made the good point last week of, or when they signed him, was, okay, if you think
10:06about it as far as replacing McGarry, that's one thing.
10:08But if you think about it as replacing what you had last year, he's better than that.
10:12You're on your third string tackle for the entire year.
10:14Did Storm Norton ever even come back and play?
10:16No.
10:16I don't think he did.
10:17No.
10:17No, I think, I think you're on your third guy for the whole season.
10:20So, um, you're better from that standpoint.
10:23Um, and again, you know, this, this, now that this part of it is over and free agency has
10:28come and gone by and large, there'll be some buyout guys in the summer and some cuts in
10:31camp and stuff.
10:32The Falcons maybe could add, and the draft is behind them as well.
10:35And you've seen who they've added.
10:36Now we can get back to talking about the quarterback.
10:38Yes.
10:38Because again, that's what it boils down to.
10:41We don't even know who the guy's going to be.
10:42Again, I, I would, I would bet that it'll be Tua just based on, uh, injury timelines and
10:47all that stuff.
10:48Um, but if he's healthy with these weapons, I could see it.
10:53You could talk me into it being a pretty good offense.
10:55Yeah.
10:55You know, like it's not crazy to think that a healthy Tua with this group of weapons could
10:59be a good offense.
11:00Yeah.
11:00Because we've seen, I mean, they had a lot more speed in Miami.
11:03There was office was built for speed, get the ball out of his hands and all those different
11:06things, a lot of creative play calling and things like that.
11:08But when you talk about where Drake London is in his career, you know,
11:12and where he is as far as the financial part of his career, he want to get paid.
11:17Yeah.
11:17And for him to get paid, he's going to continue to, um, to have the aggression that he has
11:23because he plays all three, he plays inside, he plays outside.
11:26He, again, he's not afraid to go get the ball.
11:29He's tough.
11:30He's a leader.
11:30He has all the qualities that you want, you know, going forward as your number one receiver.
11:34And like you said, Kyle, still an interesting thing on the one year tender.
11:39Obviously he's not going to be traded.
11:40Right.
11:40So, yeah, I mean, you can continue to, uh, go ahead and just get him ingratiated in this
11:44offense with Tua.
11:46And we are knocked away.
11:47But John, I mean, everybody knows who this guy is.
11:49You think Drake gets a contract before the year?
11:51I mean, they'll, they'll offer him one.
11:53I think they'll offer him.
11:54You think Drake signs it?
11:55I don't know.
11:56I kind of don't.
11:57I don't know.
11:57I kind of, if I'm at this point, like, cause it was kind of opposite last year where he was
12:01coming off that great year and maybe they weren't sure yet.
12:04Well, now he's coming off a year where he played really well when he was healthy, but
12:07he was banged up half the year.
12:09Um, I don't know.
12:10He might play one more year on this rookie deal, try to ball out and then, and then get
12:14to, cause the receiver market's crazy.
12:16Yes.
12:17Like if Drake has a year this year, like he had two years ago, he's going to get so much
12:21money.
12:21Yeah.
12:21And I think, you know, I think a lot of it, the market is still waiting for my old boy
12:25to get out of rehab.
12:29Wait for old boy to get it.
12:30But yeah, I mean, uh, George wasn't traded.
12:33So I mean, no, yeah.
12:34George Pickens is just going to play on the franchise tag.
12:37Yeah.
12:37The first day of, uh, I saw the first day of their off season conditioning.
12:40Is he going to be there?
12:41Like, you know, they can find you now, George for missing mandatory things like the mandatory
12:45mini camp, training camp.
12:46They can pick your money.
12:47Yeah.
12:47What an odd, what an odd saga that's been.
12:49Yeah.
12:49Maybe George is like, Hey, this is a lot of money.
12:51Money, man.
12:52Yeah.
12:52So you know what?
12:53It's, it's enough.
12:54I'll go play on this.
12:55Prove it one year or whatever.
12:56And then try to get back to the market next year.
12:58All right.
12:58We'll get to an NFL.
12:59No huddle coming up next.
13:00Get you caught up on everything else that happened with the teams in the NFC South, as
13:03well as some of the other fun draft picks, uh, from the NFL draft weekend.
13:07That was thanks for being with us here on a Monday sports radio, 92, nine, the game.
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