Falcons know all about new ‘red flag’ emerging in the draft process

Red flags have always existed in the NFL Draft process. Whether it’s off-the-field issues or injuries, there have always been concerns with certain prospects, but a new one that the Falcons know all too well has emerged.

NFL insider Jay Glazer reported that the absence of love for football is now prompting some teams to remove players from their big board entirely.

“For years teams have pulled players off the board for A) injury concerns or B) character concerns,” Glazer tweeted on Wednesday. “A third category/reason has been added and most teams I talked to had guys off their board for: ‘Doesn’t love football.’ This was the first year it was so prevalent. I asked around why that is and the thought was because of NIL money, guys have already been paid and some feel they don’t need to grind to get paid. So the guys who LOVE FOOTBALL are probably appreciated more.”

For most Falcons fans, the first player that comes to mind is Vic Beasley, who was one of the most physically talented pass rushers to come out of college in recent memory. There were some questions about his size, but he quickly put those concerns to bed in his second season when he led the NFL in sacks en route to All-Pro honors and a third-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

However, that was just a flash in the pan as we learned. From 2017 to 2018, Vic Beasley would only tally 10 sacks, and he became an enigma. A player so talented that the sky really was the ceiling, but his love for the game constantly came into question. He flamed out with the Titans and Raiders following his departure from Atlanta and became one of the biggest what-ifs in Falcons history.

There are a few prospects that have been linked to Atlanta that have their own red flags. Mike Green has been accused of sexual assault, Walter Nolen has been described as immature, and James Pearce Jr. has similar concerns as Beasley.

We saw the Falcons pass on Jalen Carter for Bijan Robinson because of character concerns, granted that was under Arthur Smith and not Raheem Morris. Might we see them go against the grain this year for a prospect that fills a position of need?

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Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire

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