‘We really have to attack undrafted free agency’

Last year, the Falcons drafted eight players and signed 10 undrafted free agents. None of them ultimately made Atlanta’s 53-man roster for the regular season.

That doesn’t mean an undrafted free agent can’t turn this type of opportunity into a successful career. Offensive lineman Ryan Neuzil was an Atlanta undrafted free agent in 2021 and is fixing to be the Falcons’ starting center in 2025. Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner was an undrafted free agent signed by the Green Bay Packers in 1994 and later made a name for himself with the then-St. Louis Rams from 1998 on.

Fontenot knows not to underestimate the potential of undrafted free agency, especially this year.

“There’s going to be undrafted free agents that end up being really good players,” Fontenot said. “So, you have to get the picks right, regardless of if we make five picks and get 10 players in undrafted free agency. Whatever it is, it’s about getting the picks right.”

The reason Fontenot seems so confident this year’s crop of undrafted free agents is bound to be strong is because the main attraction was.

“It’s a deep draft,” he said.

The class was bolstered by prospects who were impacted by COVID-19 in 2020. The NCAA extended student athletes’ eligibility because of the pandemic, essentially giving them more time to complete four seasons of play.

So, now that the initial pick of the litter is over, it’s time for rest to potentially find a home for 2025.

“Again, in undrafted free agency, we’ve got to be aggressive in the right way and make sure we affect this team,” Fontenot said, “because there are going to be good players there after the draft.”