NFL Draft: Who's Falcons 'Most Interesting' Pick?

While Bijan Robinson may be the flashiest addition to the Atlanta Falcons rookie crop, Matthew Bergeron provides a ton of interest in his quest to switch positions.

Jeremy Brener | May 3, 2023

In this story:

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons added a host of players on each side of the ball during the 2023 NFL Draft.

Each player is expected to change the team in their own way, but none may be more interesting than second-round offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron. The No. 38 overall pick from Syracuse is expected to be the favorite to start at left guard in Week 1, but Bergeron has potential as a tackle as well.

The 6-5, 318-pound Bergeron worked more as a right tackle upon arrival, becoming the first true freshman to start at offensive tackle for the Orange in 17 years, before starting 32 consecutive games on the left side to close out his career.

Even if he's ready to start Week 1, CBS Sports believes that Bergeron is the team's most interesting pick but "needs a fair amount of development, especially if he moves positions."

Bergeron was nearly pegged as a first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys, but they ultimately chose Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith with their selection. The main intrigue when it comes to Bergeron is his position flexibility and the opportunity to switch from primarily playing tackle in college to guard in the pros.

Should Bergeron work out at guard, it could put the Falcons' offensive line among the best in the league, and with the team expected to have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, it could be the difference between Atlanta being a pretender or a contender.

You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.

Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.

Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the SI.com team page here

Published May 3, 2023

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.