QB Michael Penix Jr. - Washington - 8th Pick
Games Cousins played in a season since 2015: 16, 16, 16, 16, 15, 16, 16, 17, 8.
Kirk Cousins consistently plays football outside of a freak injury last year.
2021 Rookie 4th Pick Kyle Pitts -
68 REC, 1026 YDS, 1 TD
2022 Rookie 8th Pick Drake London -
72 REC, 866 YDS, 4 TDs
2023 Rookie 8th Pick Bijan Robinson -
214 CAR, 976 YDS, 4 TDs
58 REC, 487 YDS, 4 TDs
This is new. A top 10 pick we WANT to sit?
“Yeah, I kind of see the writing on the wall,” QB Taylor Heinicke said when asked about his spot on the roster. Penix has looked so good thus far that Heinicke has a bag packed and the truck started.
Projection
The average season for Penix in his last two years at Washington:
363-555 (65.4%), 4772 yards, 34 TDs, 10 INTs, 154.2 QBR.
“Good Job” role: 3 Preseason starts, Regular Season Spot Duty as QB2, ready to roll if Kirk is hurt. Get ready for 2025.
If Kirk gets hurt, do the reins get handed back?
3T Ruke Orhorhoro - Clemson - 35th Pick *
*Traded 79th Pick (Calvin Ridley Trade) to trade up from 43rd.
HC Raheem Morris raves regarding Ruke’s length primarily winning him over bad enough to jump the defensive interior market:
- 35th Pick (ATL) - Ruke - 34 inch arms
- 36th Pick (WAS) - Johnny Newton - 32.375 inch
- 37th Pick (TEN) - T’Vondre Sweat - 33.25 inch
- 39th Pick (LAR) - Braden Fiske - 31 inch
To explain Ruke’s chart for further perspective, 99th+ percentile athleticism tested 15th best of the last 1,808 defensive tackles at the NFL Combine.
Projection
Ruke can play 5T snaps with Zach Harrison, but bet on 3T with Grady Jarrett being more of the approach in 2024.
Ruke’s average Clemson stat line:
24 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 4.5 sacks.
Further perspective, Jimmy Lake & Rah used 2023 Los Angeles Rams 89th pick Kobie Turner flawlessly:
6’2, 297
57 tackles, 9 sacks as a rookie.
2022 @ Wake Forest:
38 tackles, 2 sacks.
“Good Job” role: Rotational DL in 2024 taking steps toward starter by year-end.
SLB Bralen Trice - Washington - 74th Overall
Trice’s “light in the jeans” NFL Combine scale testing dropped a Top 60 player to the mid-3rd round. His 6’3, 245-250 pound build translates from the manpower production on tape in the late PAC-12 to the SAM Linebacker competition with Lorenzo Carter.
Take another 2023 Rams rookie under Rah’s wing to tie in a 2024 Falcons rookie:
77th pick Byron Young:
6’2, 258
61 tackles, 8 sacks as a rookie.
2022 @ Tennessee:
83 tackles, 12.5 sacks.
Trice’s 2023 Washington stat line: 49 tackles, 7 sacks.
How close can Trice come to matching? Having mentioned Lorenzo Carter already, the perspective can come from Bud Dupree’s 2023.
16 Games Played, 39 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles.
“Good Job” role: Share the SLB role with Lorenzo Carter - Aim to take the starting job by year-end. 25 tackles and 3-4 sacks is a nice 2024 starting point.
5T Brandon Dorlus - Oregon - 109th Overall
“My Guy” of the 5-Techniques in the Draft, Dorlus is the best value selection of this class confidently enough that he would have been an appropriate pick in Round 3, let alone Round 4. “Tweener” gets lost in this 3-4 5T Rah LA defense, ATL is potentially the best fit for him of all 32 teams.
“Good Job” role: Main competition with Zach Harrison rotationally.
RILB J.D. Bertrand - Notre Dame - 143rd Overall
Being in a MIKE Linebacker room with the likes of Troy Andersen & Nate Landman welcomes realistic expectations and models for Blessed Trinity’s Bertrand in 2024. 266 tackles of production over 50 games played hands Special Teams Coordinator Marquice Williams a new special teams starter.
“Good Job” role: Special Teams starter and rotational 3rd teamer at MIKE.
RB Jase McClellan - Alabama - 186th Overall
- Kyren Williams - 68%
- Royce Freeman - 23%
- Ronnie Rivers - 9%
The 2023 Los Angeles Rams’ allocation of running back carries is a decent projection point for the 2024 Falcons.
McClellan’s experience as an RB1, RB2, and RB3 won't show up on a balance sheet. Heard of Najee Harris? Brian Robinson? Jahmyr Gibbs?
Meet Bijan Robinson & Tyler Allgeier.
5.8 yards per carry as a rotational back for three years matched with 4.9 yards per carry as a starter does show up on a balance sheet.
“Good Job” role: Claim the RB3 spot and provide similar relief as 2023 Rams Ronnie Rivers.
WR Casey Washington - Illinois - 187th Overall
As far as Day 3 picks, Washington has undoubtedly been getting the most love through OTAs and Training Camp, illuminating how late bloomer bullet points on his resume (Wing T offense in high school, multiple coaching changes, “unsuccessful” transfer to Wake Forest) add even more to his best football being ahead.
While I designate Washington as a Z receiver, the staff seems to see him as a triple option as far as positions.
“Good Job” role: Make the team and give WR5 production.
DT Zion Logue - Georgia - 197th Overall
50 games played for Kirby Smart is a start for Logue as a developmental rotational piece late Day 3. Hopefully, Logue does not play a lot in 2024, though a thin Nose Tackle room transitioning to a base 3-4 defense can use the 6’5, 310-pound youth.
“Good Job” role: Make the 53 and develop rotationally.
