Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

The Bow Tie Chronicles: Falcons are ready for a ‘unique’ draft

073121 Flowery Branch: Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith (right) gives general manager Terry Fontenot give each other a fist bump after speaker to Falcons fans on the third day of training camp practice on Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Flowery Branch. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

073121 Flowery Branch: Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith (right) gives general manager Terry Fontenot give each other a fist bump after speaker to Falcons fans on the third day of training camp practice on Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Flowery Branch. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”
By
April 27, 2022

In the 328th episode of The Bow Tie Chronicles podcast, host D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution discusses issues for the NFL draft with Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith. The Falcons hold the eighth overall pick in the draft and have heavily scouted the quarterback class after trading Matt Ryan to the Colts for a third-round draft pick. The Falcons have five picks in the top 82 for what Fontenot called a “unique” draft.

AJC’S 2022 POSITION-BY-POSITION SERIES

WIDE RECEIVERS – Falcons need to upgrade weapons | Top 10 WRs

RUNNING BACKS – Position has become devalued in draft | Top 10 RBs

TIGHT ENDS – Chigoziem Okonkwo survived heart condition | Top 10 TEs

OFFENSIVE LINE – Ex-UGA lineman Salyer points to wins in SEC trenches | Top 10 OL

QUARTERBACKS – Malik Willis now top QB prospect for NFL draft | Top 10 QBs

DEFENSIVE LINE – Georgia dominates D-line talk ahead of draft | Top 10 DL

LINEBACKERS – Ex-UGA star Dean the latest test of play vs. measurables | Top 10 LBs

CORNERBACKS – Cincinnati’s Sauce Gardner or LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. | Top 10 CBs

SAFETIES – Georgia’ Lewis Cine will knock your block off | Top 10 Safeties

SPECIAL TEAMS – Special-teams players attracting draft interest | Top 10 Special-teamers

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

Follow D. Orlando Ledbetter on facebookFollow D. Orlando Ledbetter on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jamal Agnew fumbles the ball against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Adam Hunger/AP)

Credit: Adam Hunger/AP

On the hot seat for Falcons: Special teams haven’t been very special

After basically costing the team the game against the Jets, Atlanta's special teams units will be on the hot seat when they face the Seahawks Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

X-factor Sunday: Can the Falcons run the ball vs. Seattle’s stout defense?

Seattle has the No. 2-ranked run defense in the NFL. The Seahawks, who defeated Minnesota 26-0 on Sunday, are coming off their first shutout since 2015.

Falcons will be without two key starters for Sunday’s matchup vs. Seahawks

The Latest

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jamal Agnew fumbles the ball against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Adam Hunger/AP)

Credit: Adam Hunger/AP

On the hot seat for Falcons: Special teams haven’t been very special

X-factor Sunday: Can the Falcons run the ball vs. Seattle’s stout defense?

Falcons will be without two key starters for Sunday’s matchup vs. Seahawks

Featured

Former Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman talks to her daughter, Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, after she testified before the U.S. House Select Committee at its fourth hearing on its Jan. 6 investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Credit: TNS

OPINION

The 2020 election interference case is gone, but it can’t be forgotten

The decision by a Georgia prosecutor not to pursue the massive Trump election interference case leaves some bad deeds unpunished.

Officials to install opioid reversal kits in Georgia’s public schools

The kits will contain Narcan, which can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and restore breathing.

Odom-led comeback nets Conference USA championship for Kennesaw State

The Owls continue to be one of the most intriguing stories of the season, going from a two-win season to a conference title and beating the defending league champions.