Here we are with mock draft 8.0 and it's becoming very obvious where the Falcons are heading with that first pick. And that's why my pick has changed. Again.
Why?
Go back to what general manager Thomas Dimitroff said before free agency kicked off. Dimitroff said that whatever the Falcons do in the draft will largely depend on who they might sign in free agency – that they see free agency and the draft as one process.
OK, now look closer at those free agent signings, especially the recent ones. I won't list them all (you can read about all of the signings here), but here are seven that stick out to me:
- Defensive end Adrian Clayborn
- Defensive end Chris Odom
- Defensive tackle Tyeler Davison
- Guard/tackle John Wetzel
- Guard Adam Gettis
- Guard James Carpenter
- Guard Jamon Brown
The Falcons' three biggest needs heading into the offseason were offensive line, defensive line and cornerback. Based on everything Atlanta has done thus far, especially considering the additions of Davison, Clayborn and Odom, it's looking more and more like the Falcons are going to address right tackle or defensive tackle with that first pick now.
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And don't forget what Falcons owner Arthur Blank said during the league meetings.
"This is my 19th year as an owner and one of the things I've learned is that Matt (Ryan) plays much better vertically than horizontally," Blank said. "I don't think we're complete in terms of the offensive line. I think it'll be an area of great scrutiny and activity during the draft."
So, without further ado, here is mock draft 8.0. Let me know how you feel about the Falcons pick here. My next one – the final one of 2019 – will drop on April 24.
1. Arizona Cardinals
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama | Forget the Josh Rosen rumors; they can't pass up the best prospect in this class and Williams is that. The former 'Bama star is a potential game-changer along the interior. |
2. San Francisco 49ers
| PLAYER | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State | They could still use more firepower coming off the edge. They take Bosa here, who is considered by many scouts and draft analysts to be the best edge rusher in this class. |
3. New York Jets
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Josh Allen, Kentucky | The Jets go with Jersey native Josh Allen because he's the best fit. Some believe the long-and-athletic Kentucky star is the total package – he can rush, cover and also run. |
4. Oakland Raiders
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State | The Raiders have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball and start by adding Sweat, who posted double-digit sack totals the last two years (10.5 and 12), is tall (6-foot-5), long, athletic, has a great get-off (explosive) and gets to the QB. |
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| LB Devin White, LSU | White fills a major need in the middle of their defense. The former LSU star is an explosive hitter who shows great anticipation — a sideline-to-sideline defender who’ll make the whole unit better. |
6. New York Giants
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma | Surprised? Don’t be. The Giants know they must find Eli Manning’s successor and pounce on the athletic and multi-dimensional Murray. Don’t overlook the fact that both coach Pat Shurmur and GM Dave Gentleman have had success in the past with mobile and athletic QBs in the past, either. |
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Jawaan Taylor, Florida | The Jags signed Nick Foles and paid him a lot of money. They’ll protect their investment with Taylor. Some think the Florida product might be the best tackle in this class. |
8. Detroit Lions
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Rashan Gary, Michigan | The Lions go defense and take Gary, who might’ve been underutilized at Michigan, but has the versatility to play both inside and set the edge vs. the run. |
9. Buffalo Bills
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Ed Oliver, Houston | The Bills find a replacement for recently retired Kyle Williams with Oliver, who some think will be a three-technique terror in the NFL. |
10. Denver Broncos
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| G/T Jonah Williams, Alabama | The Broncos are all in on Joe Flacco. Now they need to address the offensive line and protect their veteran QB. They pounce on the 6-foot-5, 301-pound Williams, who played tackle at Alabama but could end up playing guard in the NFL. |
11. Cincinnati Bengals
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| LB Devin Bush, Michigan | Vontaze Burfict is out of the picture and Bush is an immediate upgrade for this Bengals defense. The former Wolverines star clocked a 4.4 40 and is strong against the run and can also play on third down. |
12. Green Bay Packers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson | The Packers must improve their pass rush and select Ferrell, an explosive player with a high motor coming off the edge, and can play all three downs. |
13. Miami Dolphins
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State | The Dolphins signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will serve as a placeholder for Haskins. The former Buckeye star is a pocket passer who completed 70 percent of his passes and tossed 50 TDs in 2018. |
14. Atlanta Falcons
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Andre Dillard, Washington State | The Falcons must protect Matt Ryan better, who was sacked 42 times in 2018. If they can give Matty Ice time in the pocket, he’ll pick defenses apart and the Falcons offense will be very tough to stop. That’s why taking the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Dillard is a no-brainer here. The four-year starter has excellent feet (fast and fluid) and is considered to be the best pass-blocking tackle in this draft class. |
15. Washington Redskins
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| QB Drew Lock, Missouri | With Alex Smith’s future in doubt the Redskins add Lock, who has the physical tools, size and arm to succeed in the NFL. He’ll sit and learn behind Case Keenum until he’s ready. |
16. Carolina Panthers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Brian Burns, Florida State | Bruce Irvin is 31 and not the long-term replacement to the now-retired Julius Peppers. They add the athletic and versatile Burns, a first team All-ACC star who can line up on either side and displays a tremendous upfield burst coming off the edge. |
17. New York Giants (via Cleveland)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Cody Ford, Oklahoma | The Giants’ backfield is set with Barkley and a succession plan now in place with Murray. They address a huge need by adding Ford here, who has outstanding balance and agility for his 6-foot-4, 330-pound frame. |
18. Minnesota Vikings
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| G Chris Lindstrom, Boston College | The Vikings address the offensive line and take the quick-footed Lindstrom, a player many scouts believe can step right in and start because of his experience. |
19. Tennessee Titans
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson | The Titans need some help along the defensive line and take Wilkins, a two-time All-ACC and All-American known for his penetrating ability, quickness and change of direction. |
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| CB Greedy Williams, LSU | The Steelers need help in their secondary and Williams is considered the best cover corner in this class. Mike Tomlin will make sure he’s a willing tackler, too. |
21. Seattle Seahawks
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| S Nasir Adderley, Delaware | The Seahawks need to bolster the back end of their secondary and opt for Adderley here, a former cornerback with fantastic instincts, range and ball skills. |
22. Baltimore Ravens
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| WR D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi | Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he wants ‘rough and tough’ receivers and gets one in Metcalf. The Ole Miss star has a rare combination of size, speed, physicality, and explosiveness. |
23. Houston Texans
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| T Dalton Risner, Kansas State | The Texans struggled at times to protect Deshaun Watson and hope that Risner, who is extremely physical and aggressive, will help solve that issue. |
24. Oakland Raiders (via Chicago)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| CB Byron Murphy, Washington | GM Mike Mayock knows you can’t have enough good cornerbacks and takes the former Washington star who can play both man-to-man, zone and has terrific route recognition skills. |
25. Philadelphia Eagles
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| CB DeAndre Baker, Georgia | The Eagles must improve their secondary and take Baker here, who is a physical corner with solid man-to-man skills and adept at rerouting receivers. |
26. Indianapolis Colts
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson | The Colts take the Clemson star who suffered an injury at the combine and didn't get to test. Some draft experts think he should be a top-half pick in this draft. |
27. Oakland Raiders (via Dallas)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech | The Raiders continue to rebuild their defense and take Ferguson, who led the nation with 17.5 sacks and finished with 64 tackles, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. |
28. Los Angeles Chargers
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame | The Chargers lost Darius Philon and add the 6-foot-6 Tillery here, a disruptive force along the interior during running and passing downs. |
29. Kansas City Chiefs
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| RB Joshua Jacobs, Alabama | The Chiefs improve their backfield and take Jacobs here, considered to be the top running back in this class. |
30. Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans)
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma | Randall Cobb is out of the picture and the Packers give Aaron Rodgers another weapon in Brown, who might just be the best deep threat in this class. |
31. Los Angeles Rams
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State | Simmons was considered a top-10 talent before tearing his ACL. With Ndamukong Suh’s future in doubt, this pick makes even more sense. |
32. New England Patriots
| SELECTION | TABEEK'S TAKE |
|---|---|
| TE Noah Fant, Iowa | The Patriots have moved on from Rob Gronkowski and reload with Fant, a physical tight end who can do it all, especially catch and run. |
And just in case you need a refresher or weren't sure, the Falcons have a total of nine draft picks at the moment.
- Round 1, No. 14 overall
- Round 2, No. 45 overall
- Round 3, No. 79 overall
- Round 4, No. 117 overall
- Round 4, No. 137 overall (compensatory)
- Round 5, No. 152 overall
- Round 5, No. 172 overall (compensatory)
- Round 6, No. 186 overall
- Round 7, No. 230 overall
MAILBAG
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