Oh, Terry…
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recently published his best, and worst, rookie classes of 2024 using various metrics from Sports Info Solutions’ total points metrics to ESPN metrics and FTN Network DVOA ratings.
After thoroughly examining the entire league’s rookie classes, Schatz had the Atlanta Falcons ranked right where you thought they would be: Among the least productive, at 30th.
This would be a much more impressive rookie class if first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had started more than three games. He finished the year with a 50.4 QBR, and Penix was the only Falcons rookie to start a game in 2024.
Second-round defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro missed half the year with an ankle injury and had 11 combined tackles in eight games. Edge rusher Bralen Trice tore his ACL in the preseason and defensive end Brandon Dorlus played in two games. Fifth-round inside linebacker JD Bertrand may have been the top rookie other than Penix, making 23 combined tackles on special teams with occasional defensive appearances.
When the 2024 rookie class for the Falcons was finalized, there were some…questions about how productive this class would be, especially given the dynamics surrounding each of these picks. Here’s a quick reminder of each of them.
- Round 1, Pick 8: Washington QB Michael Penix, Jr.
- Round 2, Pick 35: Clemson DL Ruke Orhorhoro
- Round 3, Pick 74: Washington EDGE Bralen Trice
- Round 4, Pick 109: Oregon DT Brandon Dorlus
- Round 5, Pick 143: Notre Dame LB JD Bertrand
- Round 6, Pick 186: Illinois WR Casey Washington
- Round 6, Pick 187: Alabama RB Jase McClellan
- Round 7, Pick 197: Georgia DT Zion Logue
While touted as one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in the class, Michael Penix would have to sit behind Kirk Cousins for an extended amount of time. Ruke Orhorhoro had traits that made him intriguing, but he was the farthest from a finished product. It was always going to be a journey figuring out where Brandon Dorlus fit on an NFL defensive line and everyone from round five on were just dart throws.
The only true potentially ready-made rookie drafted was Bralen Trice, and he tore his ACL in the preseason.
One of the rookies, Logue, didn’t even make it to the regular season.
This rookie class had no shot to be productive in 2024, not even because they were necessarily bad picks (which does not mean they were good either), but because there was no place for them on this iteration of the roster. The player that got the most snaps of anyone on the defense was JD Bertrand, which was purely out of necessity!
That doesn’t fall on anybody else but Terry Fontenot.
Outside of Penix, what is the plan for these rookies now?
How do they factor into the future of this franchise?
It’s way too early to call this class a hit or a miss, but given how many teams got contributors throughout this draft (The Commanders are in the NFC Championship partly because of it), it doesn’t look like a good notch on Fontenot’s drafting belt at the moment.