South Atlanta News

On the night the Atlanta Falcons selected defensive lineman Zion Logue with their final pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Jay Rodgers emphasized that Logue's presence would be impossible to ignore.

"He's going to walk through that door in a couple of weeks and he's going to block out the sun," said Rodgers, the Falcons' defensive line coach. "That's the first thing you're going to realize when you meet him for the first time."

Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 314 pounds, Logue's physical stature is immediately apparent. However, his size is not the only attribute that attracted Atlanta's attention.

Rodgers highlighted Logue's ability to disrupt plays as a key factor. "If you turn on the tape, he's shedding blocks and pushing the pocket," Rodgers noted. "His mechanics and effort match what we are looking for."

Falcons area scout Shepley Heard echoed these sentiments. "He's big. He's strong. He's rugged," Heard said. "He's just heavy-handed… His effort, his urgency, his finish. He's trying, and there's not a lot of ups and downs with this guy's effort. It's very steady."

The selection of Logue continues a trend observed in recent Falcons drafts: using late-round picks on players from Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools. In previous years, Atlanta drafted Georgia’s Justin Shaffer and John FitzPatrick in 2022, followed by South Carolina’s Jovaughn Gwyn and Alabama’s DeMarcco Hellams in 2023.

Experts often point out that SEC programs provide some of the deepest competition for players entering professional football. Late-round picks are generally expected to bring competitive spirit rather than immediate starting potential.

Rodgers acknowledged Logue's experience playing alongside high-caliber teammates at Georgia as beneficial for his development. "He's played along that Georgia front for a number of years," Rodgers said. "He's been part of that rotation… playing with first-round picks like Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter."

Heard also emphasized Logue's readiness for significant moments given his collegiate success at Georgia, where he contributed to two national championships.

"Obviously, he's starting at Georgia... The guy’s won two national championships," Heard stated. "So he's proven he can hold up in the SEC and big-time moments."

As Zion Logue enters his first professional training camp with Atlanta, both coaches believe his college experiences have prepared him well.

"He's experienced big-time games [and] was coached by a very good football coach," concluded Rodgers.