The Atlanta Falcons are supposed to take the next step this year, finally breaking their nine-year playoff drought and re-introducing themselves to the rest of the NFL as a team to be taken seriously rather than the punchline they have been since the end of Super Bowl LI.
In a game this complicated and at this level of competition the best laid plans are often easily swept away, though. It may take no more than a 12-game suspension for James Pearce Jr. and an early season-ending injury for Drake London to put the Falcons back at the bottom of the heap in the weak-but-crowded NFC South.
A new 2027 NFL mock draft from Bleacher Report‘s Brent Sobleski has the Falcons finishing with the fifth overall pick in the draft. As expected, if they land in that position they will likely be looking for a potential new franchise quarterback.
That’s what they do in this scenario, rolling the dice on Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr.
“With Penix and the offseason pickup of Tua Tagovailoa, the team isn’t tied to either for the long term. If one works out, that’s great. If the team finds itself among the Top 10 for the fifth time in the last seven years, it will be searching for a long-term answer at the game’s most important position… Carr may be coming off his first season as a starter, but he already showed that he can efficiently operate an offense and keep it ahead of the chains. He’s also a natural thrower, who spins the ball well, even when pressured.”
Carr (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) went 10-2 last season at Notre Dame, posting 2,741 passing yards, completing two-thirds of his passes and totaling 24 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 168.1 QB rating. Here’s a look at the highlight reel.
As B/R mentions, the challenge ahead for Carr will be carrying the Fighting Irish offense without the benefit of having two star running backs sharing the backfield. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks in the first round this year, respectively.
Obviously finishing with the fifth overall pick would be a disappointing result for 2026, but if it winds up landing them a true franchise quarterback, it’ll be worth it.
