The Atlanta Falcons ’offensive line was a noticeable problem throughout the 2021 season. In an attempt to fix that, the first of two sixth-round choices on Georgia’s Justin Shaffer, who earned the second All-SEC team honors on the Bulldogs’ left guard.
Justin Shaffer
Justin Shaffer
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Jalen Mayfield
After left-back Jalen Mayfield led the NFL in the bags he was allowed during his freshman year, the Falcons wanted to bring in competition. But is Shaffer the right player to push Mayfield?
Shaffer Pick rating
At 6-4, 319 pounds, Justin Shaffer is a great man. He plays to that size, and NFL.com describes him as “Mulling a bear on the left guard playing salty behavior.” Following the example, Falcons coach Arthur Smith called Shaffer a “big, nasty striker”. Shaffer will enter the NFL as a finished running blocker with the ability to generate moves and complete blocks.
Shaffer’s biggest problems stem from his lack of elite athleticism. Although it is still functional when climbing to the second level and pulling the outer zones, it is not very professional. This is especially worrying considering that Smith’s attack is based on the concepts of running a wide zone.
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Shaffer has some inconsistencies with his hands and can be hit or missed in dog protection. His game is similar to Mayfield’s in terms of better running than passing block, so it’s hard to say that Atlanta really made progress with Shaffer’s choice.
It’s also important to note who was still on the board at the time – Shaffer’s teammate from Georgia, Jamaree Salyer. While Salyer played left tackle in college, he is likely to move into a guard in the NFL. He brings more versatility to the table, shooting at all five positions in attack and was seen as a better prospect than Shaffer during this cycle.
Justin Shaffer
Justin Shaffer
Justin Shaffer
Ultimately, Shaffer was selected for the sixth round because his footage in Georgia implied that he was a scheme-specific perspective and would fight faster athletes. An interesting part is the scheme that most thought would fit best – the power-gap scheme – not the one they would enter in Atlanta.
Shaffer’s physique and ability to move a defensive line player against their will is a much-needed addition to the Falcons ’offensive line, though he’s not flawless. However, given the draft stage Atlanta chose him, it’s hard to blame the team too much.