The Atlanta Falcons found a gem in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft when they selected BYU running back Tyler Allgeier. Not only did the rookie rush for over 1,000 yards last season, Allgeier’s presence helped the team develop an offensive identity behind a dominant ground game.
With Cordarrelle Patterson and Allgeier returning in 2023, running back is not a top need for Atlanta, however, don’t expect the team to ignore the position in the draft just because of last year’s success.
One possible option is East Carolina running back Keaton Mitchell. Following ECU’s pro day last week, Mitchell said he had a few pre-draft visits scheduled, including one with the Atlanta Falcons on April 14.
In 2022, Mitchell rushed for 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns on an impressive 7.2 yards per carry. It was the Pirates RB’s second consecutive season with over 1,000 rushing yards and at least 250 receiving yards.
Mitchell earned a rushing grade of 93.9 from Pro Football Focus last season, with a zone-rushing grade of 93.4. Despite his small stature, he has the skill set to be a quality third-down back in the NFL right away due to his dual-threat ability.
Keaton Mitchell is faster than every player on the field @ECUPiratesFB
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 2, 2021
