Falcons' Frank Darby Having 'Impressive Camp,' Says Arthur Smith

Frank Darby was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, and the team hopes he can still make an impact in his third professional season.
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It's the third year of Atlanta Falcons receiver Frank Darby's career, and it could be his most important yet.

Darby, who turns 26 next month, is on the fringe of the wide receiver depth chart and needs a strong training camp showing in order to make the team. But he's doing his job so far, and coach Arthur Smith is noticing.

“Versatility is key, whether you’re helping on fourth down or special teams, or you’re able to go in there at least two or three positions," Smith said. "Where Frank is, which also helps, he’s comfortable playing three positions. I thought he’s had a pretty impressive camp so far, but it's going to play out. I’m excited to see what he looks like in the preseason.”

Versatility has been a word preached often throughout camp, and it's a trait that Smith and the Falcons want every player to have a little bit of.

Darby can contribute in multiple spots on special teams, making him more valuable than one-dimensional players. If he makes the team, that's likely where Darby will be for the majority of snaps. He's caught just two passes in 15 games across two seasons during his career.

With a competitive group of receivers in Atlanta, who can all play offense and special teams, Darby has his work cut out for him. But if he continues to show growth during the preseason, he could have his best year yet.


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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.