Role and reasoning for Atlanta Falcons drafting Georgia DL Zion Logue

When Zion Logue woke up on April 27, he had a collection of hats that totaled 16 — one for each NFL team he had spent the most time with throughout the pre-draft process.

A little before 5 p.m. EDT, the former University of Georgia defensive lineman slipped a black hat on his head. On the front panel of the hat was the traditional logo of the Atlanta Falcons, who issued draft card No. 197 with Logue’s name on it.

From one perspective, Logue has 15 hats he no longer needs. On the other, he has the only one he needs: the team where the next four years of his career will perhaps rest.

“I still can’t put it into words,” Logue said. “I’m so lucky to stay in Georgia. I’m ready to start.

Logue’s introduction to the Falcons came at the NFL Combine, when the two sides spoke briefly. They met at Atlanta’s field day on April 12, when Logue met with general manager Terry Fontenot, head coach Raheem Morris and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers.

The Falcons took a different interview style, Logue said, walking around and chatting instead of the normal session. Atlanta asked Logue how he sees himself, the success he’s had at Georgia and details on Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.

Logue, conversely, asked the Falcons’ mastermind how they viewed him on defense.

The meeting, although unusual, went well and left a strong impression on Logue, who came away particularly in love with Morris.

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“I had just met Coach Morris and felt like I had known him for years,” Logue said. “How transparent he is, how open he is, how welcoming he is. He really wants to know how he can improve his team through the players, not just the coaches.

That sentiment carried over to the trio of Falcons staffers he spoke with, generating a profile that ultimately made him confident in Atlanta as a draft destination.

“It was kind of like we always knew each other,” Logue said. “I didn’t feel like I was meeting new people. We spoke as if we had known each other for years. I felt it was very genuine – I was just waiting for the call, honestly.

That call came after a five-hour wait on the final day of the draft, but it went through nonetheless.

Now, Logue can play his pro ball in the same state he spent the last five years in. However, he is admittedly introverted and didn’t explore Atlanta much during his time in Athens.

Logue said he would go to Atlanta for larger events like birthday parties and went shopping at Lenox Square, but he preferred to stay home, relax and play video games when he was far from the football field.

On the field, the 6-foot-6, 314-pound Logue was a constant face in the middle of Georgia’s defensive line, even if he was never the headliner.

The Lebanon, Tennessee, native arrived in Athens in 2019 and has played in 50 games over his five-year career, including 43 over the past three years. He finished with 52 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass deflections and a forced fumble.

He also learned invaluable lessons such as adaptability and that reliability is better than natural ability.

Logue, 22, played 295 of his 351 snaps between guard and tackle last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He said he feels most comfortable as a three-technique defensive tackle with his hand in the dirt, but he also feels comfortable as a defensive end.

Atlanta’s pass rush should include a steady dose of stunts up front, an area Logue feels well connected with after extensive experience at Georgia.

And so, for a Falcons team that entered draft weekend looking at the size and youth of the defensive line, Logue checked a plethora of boxes.

“A big, massive man,” Fontenot said. “He’s huge, tall, strong, physical – good developmental characteristics, and I love his size and makeup.”

Logue’s dreams came true while he was watching television with his family in Lebanon, an opportunity that presented itself thanks to the features he filmed in Athens.

Now, Logue is looking to take his personal success – and that of his team – just 90 minutes from Sanford Stadium to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in hopes of carving out a place at the sport’s highest level.

“I’m grateful to be an Atlanta Falcon,” Logue said.