Busts on the Atlanta Falcons

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As we race toward August, Footballguys.com will examine one team per weekday with our quick-hitting Team Sleepers feature. These players might not be complete busts, but we will be highlighting players our staff thinks will disappoint this year and underperform their average draft position (ADP).

Go Deeper: See in-depth projections for every Falcons player here >>>

This is a weekday series that will stretch through August 1. If you like this and want another, come back the next workday. Another will be here.

Please note that our staff has identified the players listed below. The official Footballguys stance for every Falcon can be found on our projections page.

Busts on the Atlanta Falcons

• TE Kyle Pitts - 6 votes
• RB Bijan Robinson - 3 votes
• QB Michael Penix Jr. - 2 votes
• WR No One - 2 votes
• EDGE Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. - 1 vote
• LB Troy Andersen - 1 vote
• RB Tyler Allgeier - 1 vote
• WR Darnell Mooney - 1 vote
• WR Ray-Ray McCloud III - 1 vote

Reasons TE Kyle Pitts Could Be a Bust

• David Zacharias: Showed poor chemistry with Penix in 2024 and missed 2025 OTAs with a foot issue. Tough to justify a mid-TE2 ranking.
• Phil Alexander: Finally affordable, but I'd still rather take Hunter Henry, Brenton Strange, or Zach Ertz, who all typically go later than Pitts.
• Craig Lakins: While not an early-round pick, Pitts is a bet I've grown tired of making. He just hasn't been the elite tight end we saw at Florida since his rookie year. Is his confidence shot?
• Hutchinson Brown: I do not hate Pitts, he surely has the upside, but he's the one Falcon player I just have a hard time drafting due to the struggles he has had so far. 
• Mauricio Gutierrez: Can we stop blaming Arthur Smith alone for Pitt's debacle?
• Colton Dodgson: Maybe the cost is finally low enough that he can't be labeled a bust, but the usage and efficiency are trending in the wrong direction, though. I wouldn't be shocked if tight ends selected after Pitts outperform him.

Reasons RB Bijan Robinson Could Be a Bust

• Maurile Tremblay: ADP assumes huge receiving work, but a pass-leaning scheme could shave carries and red-zone looks.
• Julia Papworth: Frequently drafted in the top three, Robinson has to finish better than his RB4 finish last season to make his ADP worthwhile. But if Penix comes on strong, I expect a year more focused on offense through the air.
• Jeff Blaylock: He has missed just one game in two seasons while racking up 637 touches. He may do it again, but that workload historically takes a significant toll.

Reasons QB Michael Penix Jr. Could Be a Bust

• Jason Wood: His lack of rushing upside puts a ceiling on him, even if he improves as a passer. There are a handful of quarterbacks going later with better risk/reward. 
• Meng Song: "Bust" is a relative term with an ADP outside the top-20 quarterbacks, but I prefer Matthew Stafford or Cam Ward if waiting.

Reason No One Could Be a Sleeper

• Jeff Haseley: Nobody stands out as a bust or poor value. The one player I am concerned about is Kyle Pitts, but his draft position is factored into the concern. 

Reason EDGE Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. Could Be a Bust

• Tripp Brebner: Rookie edge defenders are commonly overdrafted for upside. Inconsistency will make it hard to start them.

Reason LB Troy Andersen Could Be a Bust

• Kyle Bellefeuil: Andersen has been productive when fit, but he's struggled to stay healthy and faces added competition with Atlanta bringing in Divine Deablo on a two-year deal via free agency.

Reason RB Tyler Allgeier Could Be a Bust

• Tipp Major: Bijan Robinson will be the workhorse. I wouldn't waste a draft pick on Allgeier as a handcuff; it's better to wait and try to grab him off waivers.

Reason WR Darnell Mooney Could Be a Bust

• Andy Hicks: He is not an expensive pick, but I suspect Penix concentrates on his fellow first-rounders in the passing game and Mooney misses out. 

Reason WR Ray-Ray McCloud III Could Be a Bust

• Jeff Bell: Kyle Pitts' ADP is low enough to make busting hard. McCloud is inked in as the WR3 for some, but early camp reports have KhaDarel Hodge ahead in that battle.