Atlanta Falcons could make first-round draft pick history on offensive side of the ball

The Atlanta Falcons are in the bottom third of the NFL in terms of available salary-cap space, and it's frankly hard to believe that the Dirty Birds aren't last. Why? They could make NFL history this season by starting 10 former first-round picks on the offensive side of the ball – needless to say, former first-rounders cost a lot more (at least on rookie deals) than players selected in any other round.

Coach Dan Quinn/new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter could/probably will be making changes to the starting lineup during the season simply for performance or injury reasons. But the projected starting offense as of now includes these former first-round picks:

• QB Matt Ryan
• RB Todd Gurley
• WR Julio Jones
• WR Calvin Ridley
• TE Hayden Hurst
• LT Jake Matthews
• LG James Carpenter
• C Alex Mack
• RG Chris Lindstrom
• RT Kaleb McGary

Gurley was signed in free agency after he was released by the Rams, and Hurst was acquired from Baltimore for a second-round pick in the 2020 draft after Atlanta lost Austin Hooper in free agency to the Browns.

The only player drafted outside the first round who will start should be either fullback Keith Smith, an undrafted 2014 free agent out of San Jose State, or wideout Russell Gage, a 2018 sixth-round pick from LSU. Via Elias Sports, no team has ever started 10 offensive players selected in the first round in the Common Draft Era, which dates to 1967.

William Hill oddsmakers aren't all that impressed as the Falcons have an Over-Under win total of 7.5 and are -300 on the moneyline odds to miss the playoffs again (+240 to make).

In this year's first round, the Falcons selected Clemson cornerback AJ Terrell at No. 16 overall. It was a glaring position of need after Atlanta lost former Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant in free agency to Detroit. Terrell is +5000 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

Which teams sail past their projected win totals? What is the SportsLine model's stunning Packers prediction? And how many wins will every NFL team have this season? ... See every projected win total, including the shocking prediction for the Packers, all from an uncanny computer model that crushed its NFL win total picks last year!