Possible reason why Atlanta Falcons gave up on top NFL Draft prospect revealed

When the Atlanta Falcons traded up to pick 35, after two straight receivers to start the second round, the world was their oyster as to which path they could take on the defensive side of the ball. There were big names at the cornerback position like Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry and Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter. However, everyone knew that the biggest name on the board, in some ways literally, was Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton. So when the Falcons ended up passing up highly touted 2024 NFL Draft prospect for tooled but raw Ruke Orhorhoro, questions began to arise. How did a prospect who needed as much projection as Orhorhoro end up higher on the Falcons board than a true interior passing option like Newton?

In a recent article by Mike Florio on ProFootballTalk, a possible reason may have just been revealed to the public.

The article reveals that Newton, after undergoing surgery to repair a partial Jones fracture in his foot earlier this season, had to undergo the same operation, but on the other foot. According to NBC Sports JP Finlay, there is no set timetable for his return.

Newton is an exceptional talent inside, his mix of size and quickness in the short area has made him one of my favorite prospects this draft cycle, but he’s not good enough to gamble on two trades for Jones fracture in consecutive years. a raw prospect with elite traits like Orhorhoro. It would have been great to see Newton, whenever he might have played, in red and black. But it definitely explains his fall in the first round and into the arms of former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn.