For a 29-year old scheme dependent (ducks) corner who would be our #2. I honestly think Collins will continue to develop into a really nice player for us and Alford will get to play more nickel
Rob Rang today: 31. Atlanta Falcons Budda Baker, FS, Washington: After surrendering a Super Bowl-record 466 passing yards to Tom Brady, no one should be surprised if the Falcons opt to reinforce the secondary. At just 5-10, 195 pounds, Baker does not have ideal size but Dan Quinn has previously been willing to overlook that at free safety with the 5-9, 185-pound Ricardo Allen currently starting in Atlanta. Quinn also previously worked with Earl Thomas (5-10, 202) in Seattle. Baker has more range and quickness than Allen, projecting as a traditional centerfielder who can drop down to help at nickel, as well. Budda Baker looks like Dan Quinn's next center fielder. USATSI
I just don't know if there's any separation between any of the guards in this draft. Feeney seems to be pretty good but is there really that big of a difference between he and Elfrin or Dorian?
Maybe not. That's a good point, but I think you need to get a guard that can play immediately/no-brainer type. Maybe there isn't one. I really want a pass rusher too.
Yeah and if we're being honest, guard is the biggest need because we have to replace Chester whereas we just want to upgrade over Allen and pass rush in general. I'd really like Lamp to fall but I doubt it happens
Look how far we've come! Everyone keeps talking about us as if we're in win now mode which I think is crazy. Quinn has laid the foundation for what can be a perennial contender. We could always use more depth but if we can swing our 3/4th rounder to move up in the second, I'm all for it.
I think we're overlooking the need for a run stopper too because Brady carving us up (without Trufant!) is fresh on everyone's memory
I agree with the order, but safety and pass rusher are a close call for me, so I could go either way. After TE, I would think linebacker would be nice to stack up on for depth.
Falcons looking to move up from 31st spot Posted: 7:57 p.m. Thursday, April 20, 2017 FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons have heavily scouted the pass rushers who’ll be available for the upcoming NFL draft, which is set to be held Thursday through Saturday in Philadelphia. The Falcons hold the 31st pick and Missouri’s Charles Harris and Tennessee’s Derek Barnett will be long gone. However, the Falcons believe there will be opportunities to move up into the 20s to land one of the “handful” of players they’ve targeted. “I think the reality is that there will be opportunities to move up into the 20s, it’s there,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said on Thursday. “I say that because there are going to be some interesting opportunities I believe. “We’ll look at opportunities.” The Falcons have been aggressive in the past. Dimitroff traded back into the first round in 2008 to land tackle Sam Baker. He moved up 21 spots to select wide receiver Julio Jones in 2011 and he moved up eight spots to select cornerback Desmond Trufant in 2013. “(Falcons head coach) Dan (Quinn) asked me the other day, have you ever moved back?,” Dimitroff said. Just once, last year from 50 to 52. “To move up in the 20s, there will be opportunities there,” Dimitroff said. “There are some interesting candidates that will be around there in the early parts of the 20s.”
Packers, Pats, Cowboys will be tough but fuck yeah at getting the rest of the teams in the NFC North and AFC East Because they suck
I think Lombardi is full of shit but if for some reason Reuben Foster is available at 31, we'd better take him.
Lombardi's tweet said teams picking 33-45 need to be comfortable with him. Fuck that, if he's there at 31 we need to sprint to the podium.
In a draft where a mediocre UNC quarterback is getting so much hype, it seems like a chance he could be available. But also likely to go one or two picks before us
Players I would be cool with us picking at 31 (obviously if Foster is there and we don't sprint to the podium, I'd poop in TD's kale smoothie) Jordan Willis Charles Harris Takarist McKinley Hassan Riddick Forest Lamp (don't think he'll be there) Cam Robinson (To play RG) Dion Dawkins (love him at G) Josh Jones or another safety (maybe the tall one from UConn who blistered the combine?) Guys I would be cool with at the bottom of the 2nd Dorian Johnson (OL Pitt) Demarcus Walker Marcus Maye Justin Evans If we can get a pass rusher, OL and safety in the first 3-4 picks, I'd be estatic. Taking an OL in the 2nd and 4th wouldn't bother me, nor would taking a pass rusher in the 4th like the heathen DE Hendrickson from FAU, or the interior DL from CHarlotte who can go inside and out like Michael Bennett did for Quinn in seattle. I have no real interest in Taco Charlton or TJ Watt who I see mocked to us a lot. I haven't followed a ton of draft coverage so you guys please tell me how wrong I am, and I look forward to cursing TD no matter who we pick.
I like all of the names at the top. I'd bump Dawkins and Jones down though because I think they'll be available into the second (and the only real safety I'd want in the first is Budda). I also hate the idea of taking Watt
Gotta love Arthur for not being the type of piece of shit owner who pretends to care about stuff like that
We really are close to having a star studded defense. We need one more playmaker on the line (maybe Poe returns to form) but Grady, Vic, Jones, Campbell, Trufant, and Neal are all immensely talented.
I really like Shede too. He seemed to start coming on late last season iirc. Wish he'd play well enough to get us to re-sign him but not well enough for him to think he can demand big money in free agency I like Poole too. He was more than solid for an undrafted rookie. Need that stud pass rusher in the first round. We've got to find a consistent pass rusher. I like Vic but he disappears a good bit.
Forgot about Poole. He was great this year. That's another reason why we need to stay the fuck away from Peppers. Between Neal and Poole, we already have players (better players) like him.
We've got Collins and Alford. We need that S next to Neal and a pass rusher. Then we are set up for a long time.
I don't know why but I get the feeling that Quinn is committed to giving Ricardo a real shot to become that guy. But yes, a pass rusher not named TJ Watt pls
I guess he's adequate. I still don't like him v much. If we draft TJ Watt I'll be pissed. But I was super pissed we drafted Neal.
I think it's because everyone thought we could've gotten Neal in the second. But we also thought we could get Jones in the 3rd. Clearly Quinn knows better than everyone.
USA Today mock: 31. Atlanta Falcons — Cam Robinson, OL, Alabama: The NFC champs didn't lose much this offseason, but starting G Chris Chester did retire. Robinson could more than fill that hole and maybe even kick out to tackle at some point if asked. CBSSports, Rob Rang Mock: (He's been fairly consistent with this pick iirc) 31. Atlanta Falcons Budda Baker, FS, Washington: After surrendering a Super Bowl-record 466 passing yards to Tom Brady, no one should be surprised if the Falcons opt to reinforce the secondary. At just 5-10 and 195 pounds, Baker does not have ideal size but Dan Quinn has previously been willing to overlook that at free safety with the 5-9, 185-pound Ricardo Allen currently starting in Atlanta. Quinn also previously worked with Earl Thomas (5-10, 202) in Seattle. Baker has more range and quickness than Allen, projecting as a traditional center fielder who can drop down to help at nickel, as well. BleacherReport Mock: 31. Atlanta Falcons: Forrest Lamp, OT/OG, Western Kentucky 31 of 32 Michael Hickey/Getty Images There's not much the Atlanta Falcons need on offense or defense—Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitroff have done a great job rebuilding the defense in the draft, and the offense is humming right along. But the interior offensive line is an issue—Chris Chester retired, and Alex Mack and Andy Levitre are getting up there in years. Forrest Lamp played left tackle at Western Kentucky, and he could be an Andrew Whitworth-style tackle, but he'd also be a good fit at guard in an expansive zone scheme in which he can use his agility, technique and root strength to anchor the inside. He'd look especially good making second-level blocks with Mack and Levitre holding down the fort at the line of scrimmage. He played at a smaller school, but Lamp showed well against Alabama and LSU, and over three seasons, he allowed just three sacks, nine hits and 18 hurries. Match that with his ability to run-block in zone, and he's a perfect fit for what the Falcons with their blocking schemes.