Atlanta Falcons select Georgia tight end John FitzPatrick in 2022 NFL Draft
The Atlanta Falcons are banking on Georgia product John FitzPatrick to come in and give their tight end room a boost. After playing a pivotal role throughout his time in Athens, the former Bulldogs tight end will be expected to do the same in his NFL career. That’s why the Falcons took him off the board in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night, picking him No. 215 overall.
In his three seasons with the Bulldogs, FitzPatrick was primarily used as a blocking tight end, but also made his name known catching the football. Last season, FitzPatrick realized his dream of bringing a championship to Georgia, helping to end a drought that spanned over 40 years when the Bulldogs defeated Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. On the season, the tight end caught six passes for 83 yards.
Most importantly to the Falcons, FitzPatrick possesses the talents that make him among the more intriguing tight end prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. The ceiling for the former Georgia pass catcher is unknown, as his potential catching the football was far from reached with the Bulldogs.
A former four-star recruit in the class of 2018, FitzPatrick was the No. 15 tight end in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The former Georgia star played his high school football at the Marist School in Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, FitzPatrick was the No. 35 ranked recruit in Georgia coming out of high school, and the No. 332 overall recruit in the nation, according to On3’s 2018 Consensus Top Football Recruits.
What NFL draft analysts are saying about John Fitzpatrick
Furthermore, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com broke down what John FitzPatrick can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the tight end’s draft profile. The analyst compared the Georgia product to Jack Doyle, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky following the 2013 NFL Draft. Prior to retiring last March, Doyle spent nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, accumulating 295 receptions, 2,729 receiving yards and 24 receiving touchdowns.
“In-line tight end with pretty good size, room for more mass and a determined demeanor,” tweeted Zierlein. “Georgia believes in hard-nosed football and FitzPatrick is an extension of a physical offensive line. He has room for improvement as a blocker but is already making blocks at both the point of attack and in space that help spring the Georgia rushing attack. He’s a decent athlete who can get catches here and there, but his value will be centered around his toughness and consistency as a run blocker.
“He should compete for early reps for a team that values physical tight ends.”