Months of hypothesis as to who the Atlanta Falcons will draft will come to an finish Thursday evening when the staff makes the eighth total choice within the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Falcons have been seen as one of many largest query marks within the draft as a consequence of their flexibility and extensive number of wants.

With requirements to fill on each side of the soccer, the query is, which want will common supervisor Terry Fontenot fill first?

This is a take a look at the three likeliest choices for the No. 8 total decide:

Malik Willis

Drake London

Garrett Wilson

QB Malik Willis

Willis is broadly seen as the highest quarterback within the class. Though he is not considered as a Week 1 starter by many, he possesses a ton of upside worthy of the eighth total decide.

The Falcons parted methods with their long run quarterback Matt Ryan earlier within the offseason, and choosing Willis would sign the beginning of a brand new period in Atlanta.

The staff might choose to attend till subsequent 12 months earlier than committing to a high decide within the draft, however Willis, a Georgia native, would give the town a brand new face of the franchise that followers would undoubtedly get behind. That definitely has to play an element within the head of proprietor Arthur Clean.

Throughout a press convention earlier within the week, the Falcons alluded, and nearly even admitted, that they might take a quarterback this weekend.

The most important impediment in direction of getting Willis comes at No. 6, the place the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers additionally want a quarterback. If Willis falls previous No. 6, it could line the Falcons as much as take Willis at No. 8 in the event that they select to take action.

WR Drake London

Standing 6-4, London offers one of many largest frames of any extensive receiver within the draft class. Typically perceived as one of the best wideout within the class, London would instantly begin in Atlanta as WR1 out of the gate.

The Falcons will look so as to add a minimum of one, if not a number of, receivers within the draft to make up for the lack of Calvin Ridley (suspension) and Russell Gage (signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The query is whether or not they really feel the necessity to seize one within the first spherical given the depth on the place.

The staff more than likely to steal London from the Falcons could be the New York Jets at No. 4. The Jets have the No. 10 choice as nicely, however may use their decide on a receiver so the Falcons do not take their best choice at No. 8. London has one of many widest ranges within the draft, however the Falcons is likely to be the candy spot for the USC Trojan.

Malik Willis

Garrett Wilson

Drake London

WR Garrett Wilson

Wilson has most likely been probably the most frequent decide in mock drafts for the Falcons over the previous few months.

The Ohio State extensive receiver loved an extremely profitable junior season, catching 70 passes for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns in simply 11 video games.

The success might translate within the NFL if he is in the correct place, and the Falcons are most likely probably the most favorable touchdown spot for extensive receivers given the staff’s skinny depth.

Wilson has been slipping down draft boards these days after rumors revealed that he didn’t come throughout nicely throughout his interviews. Nonetheless, no one can deny the expertise and he’ll possible be taken within the first 15 picks.

It is onerous to see any staff drafting Wilson earlier than the Falcons at No. 8 since no staff forward of Atlanta has expressed a ton of curiosity in including the Buckeyes wideout. However there’s been lots of chatter surrounding a Wilson-Falcons match and it could definitely give the staff a participant it wants.