March 28, 2024


Analysis

NFL mock draft: Sean Hammond’s version 2.0

Is the draft going quarterback crazy? Or just crazy enough?

What if the top four picks in the 2021 NFL draft are quarterbacks? It would be historic. It’s a near certainty that the top three will be. The question then becomes what do the Atlanta Falcons do at No. 4.

Yes, they restructured Matt Ryan’s contract to free up cap space in 2021. In doing so, they made it more difficult to move him in the future. Cutting or trading him in 2022 comes at a cost of $40 million in cap space. Doing so in 2023 would cost a more manageable $15 million.

But the move reflects the current 2021 cap crunch more than Atlanta’s desire to keep Ryan around longterm. Cutting or trading him in 2023, prior to his age 38 season, could be a realistic option.

It also comes down to this: Teams never know when they’ll have another chance at a top-five pick. Now is the time to draft a young quarterback. There’s no guarantees the Falcons will be in position to grab one next year.

Without further ado, the quarterback crazy mock draft. Is it really so crazy?

Sean Hammond

Sean Hammond

Sean is the Chicago Bears beat reporter for the Shaw Local News Network. He has covered the Bears since 2020. Prior to writing about the Bears, he covered high school sports for the Northwest Herald and contributed to Friday Night Drive. Sean joined Shaw Media in 2016.