Georgia football: Los Angeles Rams release Todd Gurley, what’s next for the former Bulldog

Could the Atlanta Falcons somewhat correct the error it made in 2015 when it drafted Vic Beasley instead of Todd Gurley? It all depends on the direction it decides to go in the wake of releasing Devonta Freeman.

The Falcons could turn to Brian Hill as their full-time starter and bring in Todd Gurley as a backup. Hill appeared in 12 games last season, starting two and gaining 323 yards on 78 carries. Hill only had two games with double-digit carries in 2019, and he only gained 91 yards across those outings.

Hill is not a proven starter, but if he’s the back the Falcons want to move forward with, Gurley makes sense as a backup alongside Ito Smith. Gurley has always been a solid receiver out of the backfield, he has 2,090 career receiving yards after all. If Hill is the starter, Gurley can carve a niche as a third-down back.

What the Falcons want at running back in 2020 is the deciding factor. The Falcons should probably focus on the defense in this year’s draft, but they also need a running back for the future and could turn towards another Georgia football running back for that.