How Atlanta’s 2024 draft class fits on the roster

Breaking down where we should expect rookies to fit in for the Falcons.

Now that the draft class is complete, it’s time to start thinking in earnest about how these selections are going to fit on the 2024 roster.

The short version? You have three players set to play major roles this season, all of them on defense, and a few special teamers and role players along with the central enigma of Michael Penix, who probably isn’t going to play much this year if all goes according to plan.

The long version? That’s below.

Michael Penix: QB2/3; won’t play unless there’s an emergency

Yes, it’s possible the Falcons simply keep Taylor Heinicke as their backup quarterback, giving Penix the advantage of a full year with no pressure to get into games even if something happens to Kirk Cousins. I’m genuinely not sure if they’ll do so.

While the Falcons will undoubtedly work to refine Penix’s skills and get him more comfortable working against pressure and throwing to the middle of the field, they don’t need to put him in mothballs to do so. He’s the No. 8 pick in the draft, a smart passer to begin with, and a player who is not young by the standards of first round draft picks, as you might have heard. The Falcons will want to do everything they can to avoid throwing Penix out there before they feel he’s ready, which may necessitate keeping Heinicke on the roster and serving as a bulwark against Penix needing to be tossed into a tough situation mid-game.

But if Cousins is healthy, we’re not going to see Penix, either way. That’s just the reality, and if the Falcons have their druthers, it’ll be a year of development for the rookie in service of ensuring he’s great when he takes the field.

Ruke Orhorhoro: Rotational DT with considerable playing time

When everyone’s healthy, Orhorhoro will get quite a bit of playing time as a young, powerful mix-and-match option across Atlanta’s front. If anyone gets hurt, his playing time will be turbocharged.

Orhorhorho played the bulk of his snaps as a 3-technique defensive lineman at Clemson, meaning he was lined up on the guard’s outside shoulder, but he lined up as a 1-tech plenty and was also split out as an end. He’s such a good athlete and his power plays so well everywhere, especially as a run defender, that the Falcons likely envision trying to move him around for favorable matchups. If he’s primarily playing inside in Atlanta, he’ll lose snaps in the early going to David Onyemata, Grady Jarrett, and so forth, but he’ll be ahead of the likes of Ta’Quon Graham, LaCale London, and likely Kentavius Street for snaps in the pecking order as the Falcons work to get him comfortable and producing. If he’s excellent or someone is injured, he’ll likely take on something closer to a starting role, because the Falcons have been quite clear that they have a vision for him, and trading up to get Orhorhoro in the second round speaks volumes.

Bralen Trice: EDGE3, with major snaps

The Falcons could still pick up another EDGE, but that player seems more likely to bite into Arnold Ebiketie’s snaps than Trice’s. I’d expect Trice to split his snaps with Lorenzo Carter, another player who is an asset against the run and can be useful in coverage, giving the Falcons a pair of well-rounded players opposite Ebiketie and our mystery free agent/DeAngelo Malone.

Trice has more upside as a pass rusher than what Carter has given the Giants and Falcons thus far in his career, and thus has the potential to seize the larger half of the platoon. But the Falcons will smartly rotate the players they do have plenty, and Trice just needs to be a pretty good pass rushing option to draw a lot of time as a balanced, durable defender.

Brandon Dorlus: Rotational DE with considerable playing time

Think Orhorhoro’s role in terms of playing time, but with Dorlus more much likely to line up over or outside the tackle, something he did a lot at Oregon. In 2023, Dorlus was lined up on the interior plenty but also was kicked out to defensive end on about half of his snaps, and actually spent the bulk of his time lined up there in 2022. The Falcons will try to make heavy usage of Dorlus and second-year Zach Harrison, who was excellent down the stretch last year, as havoc-wreaking end options.

That’s a recipe for success for Dorlus, a player who has justifiably been a favorite of draft analysts and fans from this draft class and has the skill and cleverness to cause headaches for offensive linemen. If an injury hits he could play a ton, but I’d expect immediate involvement and 25-30 snaps per game out of the gate because he’s ready to contribute.

LB JD Bertrand: Special teamer

This is a case of the Falcons falling in love with a player they might not have much of a 2024 role for on defense. Bertrand has Kaden Elliss, Troy Andersen, and Nate Landman ahead of him; the goal would likely be to utilize Landman as Ellis’s direct backup, with Bertrand maybe stealing a handful of snaps from Andersen when necessary.

He’s a tenacious defender who should be an asset against the run, but barring injury, his path to playing time in 2024 is on special teams. As a willing tackler with good instincts, Bertrand should be a positive contributor on coverage units right away, the kind of asset Marquice Williams always would like to have more of. He’ll have to wait until 2025 or later for more of a defensive role.

WR Casey Washington: WR5

With Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Rondale Moore, and likely KhaDarel Hodge ahead of him and Ray-Ray McCloud also hanging around, Washington has to beat out the likes of CFL import Austin Mack, incumbents, and possibly a free agent for the fifth receiver role. He’d likely get into a game at receiver ahead of McCloud if injuries hit, but on a game-by-game basis in his rookie season, he’s more likely to be inactive.

Washington does offer really good hands and the size and speed combination to be an interesting reserve outside down the line, but I don’t think he’ll step into much playing time unless something goes awry in 2024. He should still make the roster, however.

RB Jase McClellan: RB3

As much as I like Carlos Washington, he was not impressive in his auditions last year and has few ties to the new staff. That means McClellan should have a straightforward path to the third running back role.

That’s not a role with a lot of upside when you have a dynamic talent like Bijan Robinson and a physical, well-rounded backup in Tyler Allgeier, so McClellan will likely be limited to special teams and a handful of snaps per game on offense if Robinson and Allgeier need a breather. The good news is that he has a well-rounded skillset that includes pass protection chops, so if he needs to play more, the Falcons will likely feel comfortable giving him that run.

DL Zion Logue: Deep reserve

In year one, at least, Logue just needs time to develop and refine his skillset to become a more consistent force for good as a run defender and as a pass rusher. If Eddie Goldman retires again he might be able to force his way into a slightly larger role, but Logue is more likely to be an inactive early on than have any sort of meaningful playing time. A handful of early down snaps if he is active would seem to be the extent of what we’ll see from him, and if he’s terrific, he could always earn more down the stretch.

I’ve seen plenty of talk about this class being light on day one starters, and I understand that to an extent. Penix is not going to play unless something has gone wrong, something that’s likely true of Bertrand, McClellan, Washington, and Logue as well. Those are future-focused picks with some upside, and while you welcome those, these Falcons do need immediate help.

Most of that help is going to come from Orhorhoro, Trice, and Dorlus, then, and all three figure to be immediate, impact contributors. I understand the questions about Orhorhoro’s readiness to contributor as a pass rusher and consistent force of nature, as well as the concerns with Trice’s upside or lack thereof. The Falcons clearly made all three selections with a vision for getting them heavily involved in their rotations upfront, with an infusion of athletic ability and youth for those groups. If they pan out immediately, this defense is a lot better in 2024 while we wait for the rest of the picks to pan out. If not, well, this class will be panned even more than it is right now.