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The 30,000 homes John Wieland has built in neighborhoods all over Atlanta will always be his legacy to the city, but now he has something more personal for us all. Wieland’s private collection of art is now on display at his art museum, the Warehouse, which opened to the public on April 13. The facility, located at 1643 Chattahoochee Avenue Northwest, will continue with monthly open houses—free with an advance reservation—on the second Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. As a relevant theme to the museum, all 400 pieces of art relate to the concept of house and home.

Wieland grew up interested in art, partially inspired by his hometown Cleveland’s impressive art museum. Around the 1980s, when he and his late wife Sue were living in Atlanta and started collecting art, Wieland said to himself, “Why am I struggling with what to collect? I build homes.” The idea of home as a refuge, an escape, and a reflection of our society is a big motif, so his collection is also ambitious, with paintings, sculpture, videos, fiber art, and ceramics that reflect the cozy side of home life, but also broader social issues. Everyone should have a home, Wieland believes, a reason he is heavily involved with Habitat for Humanity.

The 39,000-square-foot facility houses works of art from all over the world, including pieces by such notable artists as Roy Lichtenstein, Radcliffe Bailey, and Howard Finster. Rooms in the museum are divided by themes that relate to home, such as makeshift houses or subdivisions. Large-scale installations are striking, and 3-D pieces intriguing to walk around, but some of the compilations of multiple images are equally thought-provoking. A series of New York Times-commissioned photos by Gregory Crewdson, for instance, have a cinematic approach: he invited well-known actors such as Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and William H. Macy to pose at the same modest ranch house, but with each photo portraying a dramatic tale.

Wieland bought the property in Atlanta’s Westside in 2010, converting a former furniture store into a storage facility. Its renovations in 2023 made it a full-fledged museum, with offices, a video theater, and lounge areas. Philip Verre, formerly chief operating officer for the High Museum of Art, is the director at the Warehouse, with John Wieland’s son Jack serving as curator.

As for John Wieland’s role in Atlanta neighborhoods, he might be most well-known for welcoming subdivisions, with brick family homes dotted around cul-de-sacs and neighborhood pools. In recent years, however, his firm JW Collection Homes has focused on higher-density communities—such as One Museum Place, across from the High Museum—that are walkable places to live near city centers.

Is Wieland himself an artist? “No, my form of art is architecture,” he says. “But we aspire to be part of the Atlanta arts ecosystem with this museum.”

Each member of the Falcons editorial team will release a seven-round mock draft this week. Terrin Waack and Tori McElhaney made their picks. To wrap up, Amna Subhan is on the clock.

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DISCLAIMER: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.

Editor's Note: Over the course of the next few days, the Atlanta Falcons editorial team of Tori McElhaney, Terrin Waack and Amna Subhan will publish three separate seven-round mock drafts in preparation for this year's NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 25. Terrin Waack and Tori McElhaney made their picks. Lastly, Amna Subhan takes a run at her mock draft.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — In just about a week's time, the Falcons will be on the clock in the 2024 NFL Draft.

We'll finally get answers about what Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris will do with the No. 8 pick and so on, as they continue to build a roster in hopes of taking Atlanta to new heights.

Until then... you get me.

I've run a full mock draft simulator — I'm not kidding — at least 50 times trying to create the best combination, especially with the later rounds. Not to mention pouring over Dane Brugler’s The Beast draft guide for hours. What I learned is the Falcons have built leverage through free agency and can get what they want, plus a little more, if they trade down.

So without further ado, my seven-round mock begins with a trade.

The top of the draft will be heavy with offensive prospects. Luckily for the Falcons, they used free agency to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins and load up on wide receivers. They're sitting pretty eyeing defensive weapons and use that leverage to trade down, picking up an additional second-rounder. In this simulation, the Colts use the No. 8 pick to select offensive tackle Joe Alt. Only two defensive players are taken before the Falcons are on the clock at No. 15 overall.

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With the No. 15 overall pick, the Falcons select Jared Verse out of Florida State. It's time they draft a young rusher that can pound the edge. Verse emerged as a top talent at the NFL Combine and became a name heavily associated with the Falcons' first-round pick in the months since. The former Seminole recorded 41 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss and nine sacks in his final collegiate season. Along with being a seasoned talent after two seasons in the FCS, Verse perhaps has that factor Fontenot looks for as a culture fit.

With the first of two second-round picks, the Falcons snatch wide receiver Troy Franklin off the board. Franklin tallied 2,483 yards receiving in four seasons as an Oregon Duck. He recorded over half of that total in his senior season with 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023.

Franklin is a big body at 6-foot-2, but still has the speed to pair well with Drake London. He averaged 15.5 yards per catch and has the ability to be a down-the-field, big-play receiver, which the Falcons have missed in recent seasons.

The Falcons use their second, second-round pick to potentially find a running mate for A.J. Terrell in T.J. Tampa. Who starts opposite Terrell in 2024 is still a question mark, but Tampa has the "tools and potential to be a starting perimeter cornerback" according to Brugler's The Beast. The cornerback recorded 9.5 tackles for loss, 22 pass breakups and three interceptions at Iowa State. Tampa, like Terrell, also grew up in Georgia. Tampa attended St. Francis High School in Alpharetta for a couple of years before moving out of state after his sophomore season.

To start their third round the Falcons draft offensive tackle Brandon Coleman. Left tackle Jake Matthews will enter his 11th season in 2024, and Coleman gets to learn under Atlanta's ironman who blocked for Matt Ryan in eight of his 10 seasons. The lineman played both left tackle and guard in college, but got the majority of his reps at tackle. Coleman will get a chance to improve his technical skills under one of the more consistent offensive lines in the league.

The Falcons find their third quarterback in the third round, drafting Spencer Rattler. Rattler accounted over 10,000 yards in five seasons, first at Oklahoma and then with South Carolina. The redshirt senior recorded over 3,000 yards in both seasons as a Gamecock to go along with 37 touchdowns of his 77 total scores. He'll get to learn under one of the most consistent and comfortable quarterbacks in the pocket with Kirk Cousins.

With a defensive front currently consisting of Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata and Ta'Quon Graham, the Falcons pick up another defensive tackle in T'Vondre Sweat. The lineman recorded 45 tackles, eight tackles for a loss and two sacks in his final season at Texas while also notching a touchdown and a blocked an extra point. That year amounted to Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Beast describes Sweat as "a rare athlete for his size, with the power and ingredients to be a dominant force against the run." Perhaps Sweat gained his defensive rushing prowess trying to contain his former teammate Bijan Robinson for three seasons. Plus, Sweat will fit in Atlanta culture quite well (trust me, just search up "T'Vondre Sweat Chain").

The Falcons are thrilled to have Gabriel Murphy — a projected fourth-round pick — fall to them at No. 143, ending the draft just as they started by picking an edge rusher. Murphy notched 38 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss and eight sacks playing alongside top-5 rushing prospect Laiatu Latu. Murphy transferred to UCLA after three seasons at North Texas. Latu may have led the Bruins in sacks, but Murphy's 61 pressures would have been No. 1 on 128 FBS squads in 2023, according to Brugler's The Beast.

After the fifth round, the Falcons are content with their seven-player rookie class to add to a roster they anticipate can win now. Instead of developing more young talent they, again, use that leverage to ship the No. 187 and No. 197 sixth-round picks to gain future draft capital in a 2025 fourth-round pick.

DISCLAIMER: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.

Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Falcons editorial staff will breakdown which prospects Atlanta could take each day of the draft according to position. Up next, cornerbacks.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons drafted cornerback A.J. Terrell in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has started 61 of a possible 67 games. Issue is, no one else rostered has numbers that rival those at his position. What's more, Terrell has seen multiple running mates opposite him every single year.

A possible long-term solution -- especially if Terrell signs a contract extension -- is exactly a week away in the 2024 NFL Draft.

"We will add some more people to that (secondary) room, some young pieces, but what I've seen on tape, I've been excited," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said last month at the Annual League Meeting. "I know it's an area of need for us so to speak, but those guys played pretty well last year when you go back and look at the tape."

There are plenty of rookie cornerback prospects the Falcons can scope. Below is a day-by-day breakdown.

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Day 1

Terrion Arnold redshirted his freshman year at Alabama in 2021 but then truly made the most of his opportunities the next two seasons. He missed only two games in 2022, making 45 tackles, nine pass breakups and an interception. He then never missed a game and increased his stats in 2023, totaling 63 tackles, 17 pass breakups and five interceptions. The latter two numbers led the SEC.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Arnold as the No. 1 cornerback, while PFF had him at No. 4.

Cooper DeJean could be a double threat in the secondary and special teams. He won the Big Ten's Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year and Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year awards before declaring for the pros. Sticking solely to defense here, though, DeJean had his strongest season in 2022 when he made 75 tackles, 13 pass breakups and five interceptions – three of which were returned for touchdowns – in 13 starts. In 2023, he missed four games but still totaled 41 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions.

Brugler ranked Arnold as the No. 4 cornerback, while PFF had him at No. 1.

Pick(s): No. 8 (first round)

Other Day 1 options: Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo), Nate Wiggins (Clemson), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama)

Day 2

Mike Sainristil began his collegiate career as a wide receiver for three seasons and then transitioned to cornerback for his final two. In 2022, Sainristil started 11 of his 14 game appearances and totaled 58 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception. In 2023, Sainristil started all 15 games, making 44 tackles, 12 pass breakups and six interceptions. The latter two were both team-high marks. Two of his picks were returned for an interception, too. Sainristill also managed two sacks in each of his defensive runs.

Brugler ranked Sainristil as the No. 6 cornerback, while PFF had him at No. 7.

Pick(s): No. 43 (second round), No. 74 (third round), No. 79 (third round)

Other Day 2 options: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri), T.J. Tampa (Iowa State), Kamari Lassiter (Georgia), Max Melton (Rutgers)

Day 3

Renardo Green had a five-year collegiate career, three of which were spent at cornerback and two at safety. He began as a cornerback, moved to safety for two years and then switched back to cornerback. Returning to his home base was the right idea. In 2022, Green started 12 of his 13 games, making 58 tackles and five pass breakups – both improvements. In 2023, he started all 13 games – opting out only of the bowl – and totaled 43 tackles, 14 pass breakups (an ACC best) and an interception. He assistant in a sack then, too.

Brugler ranked Green as the No. 17 cornerback, while PFF had him at No. 13.

Pick(s): No. 109 (fourth round), No. 143 (fifth round), No. 187 (sixth round), No. 197 (sixth round)

Other Day 3 options: Caelen Carson (Wake Forest), Khyree Jackson (Oregon), Kamal Hadden (Tennessee), Johnny Dixon (Penn State)

The Atlanta Falcons had to wait a bit longer than expected in SB Nation’s Writers Mock Draft—where the picks are handled by a representative from each of our team sites—because I was busy orchestrating a trade down to 19 with the Los Angeles Rams. Trust me, this one was worth the wait!

Atlanta took a big risk for a big reward by moving down 11 spots in the 2024 NFL Draft, but their boldness paid off with the board falling almost perfectly ahead of them. Before we get to the Falcons’ pick, here’s how the first 18 picks went in our simulation. *Denotes a traded pick.

And now, on to the Falcons pick.

TRADE — Round 1, Pick 19: EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

The Falcons trade pick 8 to the Rams for pick 19, pick 83 (3rd), and a 2025 1st.

I was expecting offers to come in for Joe Alt when he fell past the Titans at 7, but I wasn’t expecting the best one to come from the Rams. In order to make that move—and risk missing out on one of the top three edge rushers—the Falcons would need premium compensation. Los Angeles was willing to offer it in the form of a 2025 first-rounder and their earlier third-round pick. It’s a risky proposition, as 19 is certainly a lot further than any trades I’d considered before. For that level of return, however, I think it’s worth the risk.

I’m glad I took the trade, because this draft worked out marvelously for Atlanta. While Dallas Turner did end up going in the top 15, no other edge rusher left the board prior to pick 19—leaving the Falcons with arguably the best pass rusher in the class in Laiatu Latu after picking up a future first and an additional Day 2 pick. If this were to happen in reality, it would be an absolute home run—provided Atlanta uses those extra picks wisely, of course.

On Latu, I think he’s absolutely the best pass rusher in this draft class right now. Could Turner and Verse surpass him, eventually? Possibly. But after a trade down like this, there’s no reason to pass on Latu’s obvious talent. Here’s how I described him in a previous mock draft:

Latu is one of the most technically polished pass rushers I’ve ever seen coming out of college. He’s got a dizzying array of moves and knows when and how to use them. While he’s got a good frame at 6’5, 267, he does lack ideal length with less than 33” arms. However, Latu’s biggest questions were his medicals and his overall athleticism. He answered both thoroughly at the Combine (and his Pro Day), with positive reports on his health and an impressive 9.41 RAS. Latu is the most pro-ready pass rusher in the class and should be expected to make an immediate impact on passing downs, which fits well with Atlanta’s win-now mindset after the Kirk Cousins signing.

Beyond the pick itself—which Atlanta could have easily made at 8, as Latu is currently second in odds to go to the Falcons at +350 per DraftKings Sportsbook—is the haul Atlanta received in return for dropping down to 19. It can’t be overstated how crucial that extra 2025 first-rounder could be for the Falcons’ long-term plans, particularly at quarterback. Given what we know about the Rams, the pick Atlanta receives will likely be somewhere in the 20s. If all goes well here, we should expect the Falcons to be picking in the 20s as well.

Atlanta would have the option of packaging those two picks to potentially get into the early teens without having to mortgage any future picks at all. Or, the Falcons could stand pat and potentially grab two first-round talents to bolster what should be a “win-now” roster. Not to mention, if anything goes wrong for the Rams (or Falcons), Atlanta could have a much earlier pick than expected—or even two earlier picks.

It’s ridiculously early to be planning anything like that; suffice it to say that the Falcons would be in a fantastic position to continue building out the roster through the draft in 2025.

Then there’s also the extra Day 2 pick—83rd overall in the third round—to consider. That would give Atlanta another opportunity to add to a position of need, or perhaps add ammunition for a potential trade up into the late first or second round. Quite simply, this move not only secures the potentially high-end edge rusher the Falcons desperately need, but it also secures a ton of flexibility going into a winning window in 2025.

What do you think of this potential draft scenario, Falcons fans?

Atlanta

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Chicago

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ML: +120

CHI -2.5, O/U 223

ML: -150

D. Murray PG 5

30 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST

C. White PG 0

42 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST

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United Center Chicago, IL

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