FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – It was a big statement less than midway through Adetokunbo Ogundeji’s rookie season. The Atlanta Falcons’ fifth-round pick had been a bit of a surprise then, a late-round selection finding his way into the outside linebacker rotation so early into his career.
Day 3 picks in NFL drafts tend to be developmental projects unless there’s a specific role in mind. Get something out of them as a rookie? Great. But the second and third years is where the hope for true value comes.
Which made what outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino said in October all the more eye-raising.