SB Nation Atlanta: All Posts by Alec Shirkey

Falcons Ink Malliciah Goodman, Stansly Maponga To Four-Year Deals

2013-05-17T21:24:16Z

Slowly but steadily, the Falcons are taking care of signing this year's incoming draft picks, a process that has been expedited by the rookie pay scale instituted under the new collective bargaining agreement.

With safeties Zeke Motta and Kemal Ishmael already under wraps, Atlanta officially signed defensive ends Malliciah Goodman and Stansly Maponga, fourth and fifth-round picks in this year's draft, respectively. Both look to have signed the typically structured four-year rookie deal.

Goodman, a product of Clemson and good 'ole Dabo Swinney, is your prototypical strong-side defensive end. He's a powerful run defender who should see most of his action on early downs, perhaps even starting as a rookie. He also offers some limited potential as a pass rusher.

Maponga, a solid pass-rusher on what was a talented TCU defense in 2012, projects more as a traditional blindside defensive end. Most of his potential comes from the upside he offers as a speedy edge rusher in passing situations.

Now the only unsigned rookies that remain are Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, Levine Toilolo and Sean Renfree. Trufant and Alford are arguably the most important picks left to sign for a Falcons team looking to overhaul its secondary.

These last deals may take some time, given Atlanta's salary cap situation. But no need to fret: Trufant and Alford will be taken care of and on the field before we know it.

Draft Aftermath: Rookies To Watch In The NFC South, 2013 Edition

2013-05-14T13:30:25Z

The Atlanta Falcons weren't the only squad to add rookie talent in April (curse you and your "parity," Roger Goodell).

While every team has added important pieces to the respective rosters, there will always be a special place for keeping tabs on rival squads and what sort of talent they've brought in for the upcoming season (some call this "industrial espionage").

Here, we take a look at what the rest of the NFC South has done with its draft picks. Could one of these teams knock the Falcons off their high perch from last year? (I got jokes today...)

New Orleans Saints: SS Kenny Vaccaro, NT John Jenkins

Unsurprisingly, the Saints focused mostly on defense with their early draft picks, and they added a couple of talented players in Vaccaro and Jenkins.

Though maybe not the most popular first-round pick, Vaccaro has the size and athleticism you would want to see from a safety taken on Day One. He's rangy enough that the Saints could let him roam around in a Cover Two, great run defender, can be used as a slot defender or as an extra man in the box.

Vaccaro should probably see the field quite a bit as a rookie, which could be good for Matt Ryan, as rookies tend to make mistakes in what has become a very complex NFL game, and Vaccaro doesn't have the best instincts as it stands right now. Should he start week one, the Falcons will probably attack Vaccaro's spot in the secondary early and often.

As for Jenkins, well, he just added some much-needed size to what was a fairly soft front seven in New Orleans. He's not a three-down player in the NFL, more than likely, but they'd be silly not to use him in running and goal line situations. That is where Jenkins thrives, and he could make things more difficult for new Falcons Steven Jackson.

We would ask how these guys looked in rookie mini-camp, but Sean Payton decided to go for the edgy, us-against-the-world look in 2013 and bar media from the camp.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Johnthan Banks

The Bucs still made some solid moves in the draft, even after shipping off their first-round pick to acquire All-Pro cornerback Darelle Revis. Revis is obviously a game-changer, one that immediately makes Ryan's life tougher and Tampa Bay's secondary much better.

As for Greg Schiano's second-round pick, Banks is a player that many Falcons fans are familiar with because he was originally tied to Atlanta before it became clear the team would trade up in the first round (scouting report).

It's hard to tell if Banks will see the field right away as a rookie, or if Tampa will let Eric Wright and his restructured contract get the nod opposite Revis. Remember when Wright signed a five-year, $38M deal? Good times.

Carolina Panthers: DT Star Lotulelei, DT Kawann Short

It's no secret that Carolina had a hole the size of Jerry Richardson's wallet at defensive tackle entering the draft. This has been an area of weakness for the Panthers for some time, and the team finally addressed it by adding two of the best defensive tackles in this draft class.

Lotulelei scared some away with his heart condition at the top of the draft, but at 14th overall the Panthers look like they got a real bargain. He's as explosive as they come for a D-tackle.

Short, however, could be the diamond in the rough Carolina needs. His ability to play the nose, 3-tech and 5-tech should be a huge boost to Short's chances of seeing the field early. Ron Rivera can essentially use him any way he might want.

His effort has been questioned by some scouts, as has his stamina, but when he gets in the zone there may not be a tougher rookie to block in the NFL this year. It all depends on how often the Panthers want to use him, and if he'll come to play in 2013, because Short has fantastic strength and fearsome pass-rushing ability for a tackle.

Out of all these teams, I might say the Panthers had the best draft of a non-Falcons NFC South team. Building up front first is never a bad way to go.

Falcons Salary Cap Update: Draft Pick Signings Could Be Delayed

2013-05-06T22:30:31Z

In case you found yourself in a coma and/or drunken stupor over the last couple of weeks, the Falcons took eight players in the 2013 NFL Draft, including cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford with their first- and second-round picks.

Though the rookie pay scale instituted under the new CBA makes the cost of signing those players significantly cheaper, they still cost money. And those are expenses that the Falcons actually can't pay... yet.

Our favorite blondie over at ESPN has calculated that the Falcons currently sit at $2.183M under the salary cap. That number is essentially confirmed by Sportrac, which has Atlanta at $1.909M under the cap. In either case, Yasinskas reports that the Falcons do not have enough room to officially sign the 2013 draft class at the moment.

Indeed, Peter Konz's cap hit last year was about $652,000. Julio Jones' rookie cap hit was $2.957M in 2011. So including the late-round picks, we can project that this year's rookie class will require around $5M worth of space, if not more.

But fear not: Tyson Clabo's somewhat surprising release last month (he has since signed with Miami) can provide some relief here. The $4.5M base salary he would've earned in 2013 will be off Atlanta's books once June 1 rolls around (he was designated a post-June 1 cut by Atlanta's front office).

In addition, the long-awaited Matt Ryan extension which Thomas Dimitroff continues to downplay should also offer some cap relief, at least for the first year of the deal (most NFL contracts are backloaded, as many of you know).

So to summarize, don't expect the Falcons to work out those rookie deals right away. They'll wait until June when they get that nice bonus from Clabo's release to finalize those agreements.

But that may not be all, either. That $4.5M opens up enough room for the Falcons to potentially make one more small-caliber veteran signing.

As Dave points out, don't expect the glorious return of John Abraham. But a depth acquisition on the defensive side of the ball, maybe someone like ex-Jaguars linebacker Daryl Smith, could make for a prudent move. We will see how that plays out over the coming months.

Atlanta Falcons Scouting Report: Robert Alford, FCS Diamond in the Rough?

2013-05-05T18:00:08Z

It's probably a good thing that fans didn't immediately recognize all of Atlanta's draft picks this year.

As fellow writer Alex Welch so perceptively points out, fans hate the unfamiliar, but they also tend to overlook small school players (so do NFL teams, occasionally).

Having played at the FCS level throughout his collegiate career, we don't necessarily know what we will immediately get with Robert Alford, second-round pick of the Falcons in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Admittedly, Alford was a name I had heard sparingly before the draft, but he was considered a big riser following an impressive Senior Bowl performance and some striking personal workouts:

Hearing ton of buzz about a player I'd slept on before today: CB Robert Alford of SE Louisiana. Raw, sick athlete. 8-10 visits. 1-2 rounder?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2013

In fact, many had speculated that Alford would be a top-42 selection. Landing him at No. 60, an obvious example of the "best player available" mentality after taking another corner in the first, comes across as a steal on paper. And remembering that the Falcons may have even considered taking Malliciah Goodman in the second round before landing him two full rounds later makes this pick seem superior to the alternative.

There's no knowing just how Alford will turn out with the Falcons just yet. But as we delve into his past, perhaps we can catch glimpses of his future as a pro.

Position: CB
School: Southeastern Louisiana
Combine Measurments: 5'10, 188 lbs, 32'' arms
40 Time: 4.39 sec
Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical: 40.0 inch
NFL Comparison: Corey Graham

Stats (senior): 39 tackles (35 solo), 5.0 TFL, 4 INT, 8 pass break-ups

What sets him apart:

The most impressive skill I see out of Alford is his physicality - he will get off his blocks and get in the ballcarrier's grill, so to speak. Great hand usage, and he's always looking for the ball. Great in bump-and-run coverage.

Alford's athleticism allows him to excel in man coverage as well, an asset that should translate rather quickly to the NFL level. Can be a real ball hawk when he wants to, and his fantastic ups (40-inch vertical) remind me of Brent Grimes, in a way. Really, just watch the first play of this highlight reel and tell me that doesn't look like a Grimes play.

More important than the great 40 time is that Alford has killer playing speed: he nearly returned the opening kickoff of the Senior Bowl to the house (the one man he couldn't beat on that play was new teammate Desmond Trufant). He really just flies all over the field, with the quickness you want and great change of direction. reminiscent of my favorite safety in this year's class Matt Elam.

And that's another thing: Alford has serious potential as a return man in the pros. I would be shocked to see him start at corner right away, but I can almost guarantee we'll see this guy making plays on special teams as a rookie.

Potential issues:

As I said, don't expect to see Alford start immediately, mostly because (duh) Desmond Trufant rightfully has the inside track.

The other reason involves the type of player the Falcons get in Alford. He's an athletic specimen, but he's raw and it should take some time for him to adjust to the complexity of the NFL game.

Pete Golding, Alford's most recent defensive coordinator at SE Louisiana, specifically pointed out the perceived mental deficiencies in his star cornerback's game:

"Rob has always been more athletic than everybody, so he could just go on the field, compete and let his raw ability take over," Golding said. "But he didn’t understand formations, split receivers and the routes that come off of them, coverages, he was like a freshman in that aspect of it. But he realized ‘this is the last shot I got.’ And on his days off, he’d come in here and we’d watch film together. He became a student of the game, which helped him tremendously. He still has a lot of work to do, but I think he realizes it now."

So no, there's no baptism by fire awaiting Alford as a rookie barring some tremendous improvements throughout his first professional training camp.

His technique needs some improvement too, specifically when tackling. He's more than willing to come up and hit receivers or backs, but he'll occasionally take bad angles or display improper form. This can be corrected with good coaching.

Alford also has a couple of injuries to his name, one of which (shoulder) caused him to miss the entirety of the 2010 season. Given Atlanta's recent misfortunes with rookies and injuries, I'd expect the trainers and staff to be cautious with Alford.

Other writers have cited concerns such as his Crohn's disease, age (25 years old) and the level of play he faced in the FCS, but I honestly don't believe any of those are valid. Plenty of fantastic players, Hall of Fame players, have emerged from smaller schools. Crohn's disease should not be an issue with proper nutrition (David Garrard has played through it). And age, well, that's just a number as my mother would say.

In summation...

Alford was the riskier of Atlanta's first two draft selections, but it's also possible that his ceiling is higher than Trufant's. There will be growing pains and questions of his immediate returns as a second-round selection, but Thomas Dimitroff very well could have discovered a diamond in the FCS rough in Alford.

Also, #TeamAlford because what Falcons player would you be if you didn't hashtag every tweet with #TeamAlford.

Highlights: The Senior Bowl performance that essentially won the Falcons over

Robert Alford (CB Southeastern Louisiana) Senior Bowl (via Justis Mosqueda)

2013 NFL Draft Results: Falcons Select Levine Toilolo In Fourth Round

2013-04-27T18:16:06Z

With the final pick of the fourth round, the Atlanta Falcons drafted tight end Levine Toilolo out of Stanford, fulfilling Thomas Dimitroff's promise that his team would draft the position this year.

Toilolo is a monster of a pass-catcher, measuring in at 6'8 and 260 pounds, whose combination of size, decent speed (4.79 40-yard dash) and reliable hands make him an intriguing prospect to groom behind starter Tony Gonzalez in 2013.

Many consider Toilolo to be something of a project. Though he was a featured weapon in the Cardinal's offensive attack, he also played second fiddle to Zach Ertz for most of the season.

Even so, his college production was still solid:

#LevineToilolo posted 50 receptions, 763 yards, 15.3 ypc, & 10 TDs in 31 career games at Stanford
— Matt Haley (@FalconsMHaley) April 27, 2013

Toilolo is also a strong blocker with a great NFL frame on him, as well as a possession receiver whose route-running and technique should continue to improve with the right coaching and tutorship.

He doesn't even have to be thrust into battle right away: Atlanta can stick him at No. 2 and let him learn from the GOAT Gonzalez as a rookie.

Bottom line: the Falcons get an athletic marvel with big-time potential, and one that comes from a Stanford program known for producing NFL-quality tight ends. Excellent pick at the end of the fourth round, in my opinion.

What say you? Do you Toi-LOVE Atlanta's latest selection?

2013 NFL Draft, Day Two: A Brief Falcons Preview

2013-04-26T17:30:02Z

The Falcons made a bold move Thursday night, surrendering a third-rounder and a sixth-rounder to move up eight spots and grab CB Desmond Trufant.

Needless to say, I am quite pleased with the move. Though Atlanta does lose a Friday pick, the team also satisfies its biggest need and finds a player that should certainly be starting from day one.

The fact that the Falcons took Trufant with Xavier Rhodes sitting right there, too, I think says it all.

But looking ahead to when draft festivities resume tonight, the Falcons still have a number of things to check off their proverbial list. Defensive end is a necessity. More talent and depth at linebacker is a must. A tight end to groom behind Tony Gonzalez this season would be fantastic.

The only Falcons pick at the moment will come at No. 60 overall at the end of the second round. But depending on who's still around, Atlanta could easily elect to trade down into the early third, or even (very unlikely) trade up in the second.

As for who actually still is around, here's a quick list of some prospects Atlanta could be targeting, several of which are touched on briefly in my mid-round preview post:

DEFENSIVE ENDS

Cornellius Carradine, Florida State (scouting report)

Margus Hunt, SMU (scouting report)

Damontre Moore, Texas A&M

Sam Montgomery, LSU (scouting report)

Corey Lemonier, Auburn

Cornelius Washington, Georgia (worked out)

Malliciah Goodman, Clemson

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Arthur Brown, Kansas

Jamie Collins, Southern Mississippi

Sio Moore, Connecticut

Khaseem Greene, Rutgers

Chase Thomas, Stanford

Sean Porter, Texas A&M (worked out)

TIGHT ENDS

Zach Ertz, Stanford

Travis Kelce, Cincinnati,

Gavin Escobar, San Diego State

Vance McDonald, Rice

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Menelik Watson, Florida State

Larry Warford, Kentucky

Brennan Williams, UNC

RUNNING BACKS

Eddie Lacy, Alabama (scouting report)

Giovani Bernard, UNC

Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

These are all guys to keep an eye on when gearing up for the draft again tonight. If forced to place a bet, I'd wager the Falcons are looking closely at the outside linebackers that could be around at No. 60. Brown, Collins and Sio Moore all feel like viable options for Atlanta at this point.

What say you? What position do you think the Falcons address in the second round tonight?

Poll

What positional need will the Falcons address in the second round?

Running Back

4 votes

Tight End

9 votes

Offensive Line

1 votes

Defensive End

183 votes

Linebacker

111 votes

Safety

1 votes

Trade (up or down)

13 votes

322 votes | Poll has closed

NFL Draft 2013: Falcons May Be Movers In Mock Draft No. 2

2013-04-24T15:59:51Z

Coming at you with another exercise in futility, this is my second and final full-length mock draft in which I haplessly loft darts at a board and hope the pick sounds feasible.

Falcons Trade First, Third-Round Pick To Colts In Exchange For First, Sixth-Round Picks

Round 1, #24 - CB Desmond Trufant, Washington

The rumors that Atlanta will trade up in the first round may just be that - rumors - but when you look at the evidence, it's hard to deny certain things.

First, we know Dimitroff has a history of trading up in the first as GM of the Falcons (Julio Jones, Sam Baker). Secondly, it's been made clear by the coaching staff and front office that the Falcons still consider themselves to be in "win now" mode (despite cutting a number of veteran starters).

Most importantly, this sort of trade will not cost Atlanta an arm and a leg. Many speculate Trufant could fall to No. 30 overall, but I believe the Falcons will have to jump the Vikings at No. 25 to land an impact corner this year.

And that's what the Falcons would get in Trufant: a cornerback that can take Dunta Robinson's vacated spot and presumably start from week one. He's still a value pick, too. I actually consider him to be on the same level as Xavier Rhodes, and not slightly below as others have him. D.J. Hayden could be another intriguing possibility here, though the evals on him range all over the place and that arterial tear is scary.

So Trufant seems like the safer pick. He's a little too handsy and will have to adjust quickly or else be liable for pass interference early and often. But the instincts, the intangibles, the coverage skills, the physical play and the athleticism all check out. It's a perfect fit.

Round 2, #60 - DE Corey Lemonier, Auburn

I was hard-pressed not to go with Gavin Escobar here, but like Dave I think Lemonier is the best way to go.

This is a guy whose production was much better as a junior and sank while playing on a terrible Auburn squad in 2012. His pass-rushing ability and potential is undeniable, but what intrigued me even more was his versatility. The Tigers coaching staff had him lined up at the five-technique, as a stand-up rusher and even (oh no) dropping into coverage.

His technique stands to improve, but the Falcons could to use him rotationally and still see rookie production on the D-line right away. I'll admit Lemonier may be a reach this early, and out of all my picks I'm probably the least confident Atlanta would make this one.

He's probably not the best player available here, but he fills a crucial need.

Round 4, #127 - OLB Zaviar Gooden, Missouri

The same university that brought us Sean Weatherspoon has another outside linebacker that screams Atlanta in Gooden.

The Falcons had such issues covering tight ends and running backs down the stretch that I think, at the very least, some depth is needed. Nicholas may be able to right the ship this season, but regardless the Falcons need another backup option at the position.

Gooden is explosive, hard-hitting, and can match up with the faster players he'll face in coverage. Great instincts, consistent tackling ability, and he has the potential to be an impact player this year. Someone buy Dimitroff some Mizzou gear already.

Round 4, #133 - CB Will Davis, Utah State

"Another cornerback?" you furiously begin typing. His lack of experience and the level of competition he faced in college are probably legitimate concerns here.

But Davis has flashed the athleticism and natural play-making ability you would look for in a starting corner, making him a potential steal here even in the fourth round. He's naturally going to be unrefined, but he has killer instinct and great change of direction when in coverage. He's also another guy the Falcons brought in for a workout.

Round 5, #163 - TE Levine Toilolo, Stanford

There's the tight end Dimitroff said the Falcons would draft, the first offensive selection of the draft in round five.

Listed at 6'8 and 265 pounds, Toilolo is a freak of an athlete, and it's hard to ignore the big-time potential here. He has quality hands, comes from a Stanford program known for producing pro-level tight ends, and some serious mismatch ability with 4.8 40-time speed.

But he's a project. Technique is inconsistent, both blocking and receiving, and he has very limited starting experience. The Falcons, however, can stick him at No. 2 and let him learn from the GOAT as a rookie.

Round 6, #192 - SS Cooper Taylor, Richmond

He hasn't been discussed too much on this board, but I love what Taylor can do and the Falcons need another backup safety.

He began at Georgia Tech, but transferred to the Spiders after Paul Johnson failed to give him a fair shot because of a heart condition that was apparently corrected. His two remaining seasons at Richmond were nothing short of impressive.

Taylor has a fantastic football IQ, plays with purpose, takes good angles to the ball and hits hard to boot. Not an elite athlete, but he makes up for that with instincts, consistency and effort.

Also, he's a local kid who played at my high school and guided our team to second place in AAAA his senior season. Biased? Maybe. But I have no doubt he would beat Schillinger for a roster spot.

Round 6, #198 - OT Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin

Dimitroff drafted two Badgers last year, including Peter Konz, so he may have his eyes on Wagner.

Wagner has experience at both left and right tackle, has great technique (as most Wisconsin linemen do) and would provide depth at a position in sorely need of it. Thinking more on it, it would actually surprise me quite a bit if he's still around in the late sixth, but it's so hard to tell on day three of the Draft.

Round 7, #236 - WR T.J. Moe, Missouri

Another Tiger, Moe would provide depth at receiver with the potential to be the starting slot receiver down the road in Atlanta. Has the right combination of agility and hands you would want to see.

Round 7, #243 - DT Chris Jones, Bowling Green

Under Dimitroff and Smitty, the Falcons have taken a seventh-round defensive lineman in three of the last five drafts. This year, we're bringing some MACtion to Atlanta in Jones, whose pass-rushing abilities make him an interesting choice as a late-round flyer.

Round 7, #244 - RB Ray Graham, Pittsburgh

Apparently Dave and I were thinking the same thing here. Graham didn't look as explosive in 2012 after suffering an ACL tear the previous year, but this is a guy who seemingly has every skill you look for: speed, agility, pass-catching, the ability to power through initial contact.

The injury is a concern, but there's essentially no risk in using a seventh on him.

Round 7, #249 - C Dalton Freeman, Clemson

The Falcons seem set on drafting a backup center this year. Freeman can provide that, and perhaps then Hawley would slide over and serve as the primary backup guard on the right side.

UFAs - QB Seth Doege, RB David Carter, CB Branden Smith, OG Jamaal Johnson-Webb

Carter is a powerful fullback-halfback hybrid out of Morehouse similar to Jason Snelling. I like the depth he would provide at both spots, especially considering Bradie Ewing's ACL injury. Smith is speedy as heck and could contribute as a return man and gunner on special teams right away. Doege and Johnson-Webb would be solid depth plays, as well.

And if for some reason you wanted to see a mock depth chart after all this stuff hypothetically took place (why would you?), well, here's one now:

Falcons Draft Preview: Notable Mid-Round Prospects, Abridged

2013-04-22T15:02:12Z

We've already taken a pretty in-depth look at who the Falcons might be considering with that 30th overall pick come Thursday night. Cornerbacks, defensive linemen, linebackers and even tight ends have all shown up on the proverbial radar to the nodding approval of many Falcons faithful.

But Atlanta has 11 picks in this year's draft, including a compensatory pick at the end of the fourth round. And for the first time since 2009, the Falcons will have at least one pick in each of the first four rounds (though it's possible that could change). Thomas Dimitroff has even spoken to the deepness at coveted positions like D-end or cornerback.

As such, there are a number of talented players the Falcons should strongly consider taking in rounds 2-4, players that should provide quality depth if nothing else as rookies. Let's take a broad survey of the talent:

DE Corey Lemonier, Auburn (6'4, 255 lbs)

After an impressive sophomore season (9.5 sacks), Lemonier's production took a sizeable dip (5.5 sacks) as Auburn stumbled through an atrocious 2012 season. He's quick as lightning, has shown great athleticism and has that "high motor" scouts love talking about. If given the right coaching staff, he has the tools to potentially transform into a quality pass-rusher in the pros. But he's been inconsistent throughout his career, his technique is poor, and he's not great defending the run. And he's probably not the guy who'll develop into an absolutely dominate D-end.

DE Mallichiah Goodman, Clemson (6'3, 276 lbs)

One of the many players Atlanta has brought in for a private workout, Goodman fits the mold of Lemonier in that he has all the physical tools, but his technique needs work and his pass-rushing moves are very limited. He is stronger than his Auburn counterpart, probably a better run defender, but like Lemonier he too likely won't post double-digit sack totals in the pros. Development would be key.

DE Alex Okafor, Texas (6'5, 264 lbs)

Many viewed Okafor as a sure-fire first rounder last fall, but he's fallen because his strength lies in stopping the run (just like Ray Edwards). He lacks that quick initial burst you look for in some of the top, speedier guys, meaning he'd likely slot in as a weakside defensive end in the pros. He's very strong, but it's the lack of a high pass-rushing ceiling that has many worried.

DE Devin Taylor, South Carolina (6'7, 266 lbs)

Taylor is interesting because he has some intriguing physical tools, but his production has steadily slipped (3.0 sacks as a senior) since he was a sophomore (7.5 sacks). He is quite fast for his size (4.65 40-time), he's got some good versatility, he's got great on-field awareness and of course has multi-year starting experience in the SEC. The problem is whether Taylor's issues are correctable or not. He'll need to bulk up a bit and obviously won't be a major contributor right away. But the skill set is interesting.

DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida State (6'3, 251 lbs)

One of three very good Seminole pass-rushers, Jenkins is a fantastic athlete with the size and technique you look for in a speedy edge-rusher. He posted a forgettable 40-time (5.08 sec) but believe me when I say he looks quite fast on film. Like Carradine, he's great at closing in the pocket and tackling in the open field. But the only reason we really know about Carradine in the first place is because Jenkins missed almost the entire season with a foot injury. He also dealt with injury problems as a junior. His run defense is not optimal, either. But he could also be a fantastic find if his health checks out.

OLB Jamie Collins, Southern Mississippi (6'4, 250 lbs)

Collins is a great athlete and a great edge-rushing type of player. What's more, Collins is can hold his own in coverage and has the closing speed to make big plays in space. Very versatile player the Falcons could use in any number of ways. However, his awareness and stamina could probably stand to improve, and again there's some development that needs to happen here. Still probably a second-round pick.

OLB Sean Porter, Texas A&M (6'1, 229 lbs)

The Falcons brought Porter in for a workout in March, whom I discuss in this post.

OLB Jelani Jenkins, Florida (6'1, 243 lbs)

He's a bit undersized and dealt with some nagging injuries in college, but Jenkins has great agility in the open field and the sought-after skills in coverage at outside linebacker. He's a good tackler, can light guys up at times and is a fantastic athlete. But his strength is still lacking, and he has trouble shedding blocks making him a potential liability against the run. Probably doesn't come off the board until the fourth round.

OLB Zaviar Gooden, Missouri (6'2, 234 lbs)

Gooden is a workout warrior who really stood out at the Combine this year (4.46 40, 27 bench reps). He's a freak of an athlete who, like Jenkins, is smaller but has the speed and the potential to match up in coverage with some of the better tight ends he'll likely face in the pros. But his skills in space are still a bit unrefined and his tackling ability needs work. Still, his intangibles check out and he comes from a program that brought the Falcons Sean Weatherspoon and William Moore.

CB David Amerson, NC State (6'1, 205 lbs)

Amerson entered 2012 widely considered as the best cornerback in the nation following a fantastic sophomore season (13 INTs). But he had some rough matchups against some of the better QBs he faced as a junior (Tyler Bray, Tajh Boyd), and often times it was his aggression that got him into trouble. He's obviously a great ballhawk with great intangibles, and his 40-time (4.35 sec) is appealing, but his speed and agility don't look as impressive on film. But the potential is enormous. Sure-fire second-rounder.

CB Darius Slay, Mississippi State (6'0, 192 lbs)

Unlike his teammate Johnthan Banks, Slay's only time as a starter came during his junior year, but what he showed in that time was very impressive. His instincts in coverage are fantastic, great at reading the play and getting his hands on the ball, and his speed (4.31 40-time) can only be an asset. His tackling looks poor at times, and he could probably stand to play more physically. But it's his coverage potential that has teams excited.

CB Tyrann Mathieu, LSU (5'9, 186 lbs)

Nope. Drug addictions do not a good athlete make. And to be honest, the big plays and returning abilities kind of masked some legitimate holes in Mathieu's game (i.e. coverage). Too much baggage.

CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Connecticut (6'1, 195 lbs)

Not really a mid-round prospect as many have Wreh-Wilson slipping into the first round, but we'll list him here because hey I feel like it. He's a bigger corner suited for zone coverage, good instincts and nice physical play. Has the sort of skill set that could allow him to be burned by a faster receiver on deep routes, and he's not exactly an asset in the run game. But his anticipatory abilities and patience are what could get teams to bite.

CB DJ Hayden, Houston (5'11, 191 lbs)

Another guy that could go in the first, Hayden is a name that has recently become attached to the Falcons if they choose to stay at 30. He's interesting in that he survived a heart injury (arterial tear) that nearly killed him, and there's not a lot of data on recovery from that sort of issue. But he looked just fine running at the combine, and he really has the potential to be a lockdown corner. His positioning in coverage is really impressive, and his instincts are great. He doesn't look great in the running game, and his hands aren't great, but I think this is a pretty special player if his health checks out. Definite first-round potential, though he could slip to the late second.

TE Zach Ertz, Stanford (6'5, 249 lbs)

This is another guy that's been linked to the Falcons, as early as the first round in some cases, but I'm not sure that I see it. Ertz is a one-year wonder (sat behind Coby Fleener) with the height and quickness you want. His instincts allow him to find those holes in zone coverage, and he'll make some pretty tough catches. But his route running isn't great, he has a tendency to drop passes, and could probably stand to get a little stronger. More of a throwback, Jason Witten tight end, but Ertz will need to play more physically over the middle.

TE Gavin Escobar, San Diego State (6'6, 254 lbs)

Coming from the Aztecs, Escobar was never really heralded for what is a great skill set. Athletic with great hands to match, he's got the versatility to lineup up out wide or in the slot (as the Falcons occasionally do with Gonzalez). Can be dangerous in the open field, and his body control - especially when called upon to make those tough, leaping grabs over the middle - is excellent. As a blocker, he could stand to get better, and he wasn't always lined up as a traditional in-line tight end with the Aztecs, but suffice it to say I still like Escobar a lot.

TE Travis Kelce, Cincinnati (6'5, 255 lbs)

Kelce is a great athlete who is both a solid pass-catcher and an impressive blocker. Very intense player on the field. But he was also a one-year wonder with the Bearcats with very limited experience. Potential character issues after being suspended for the entire 2010 season. Could need some time to develop, and probably more of a balanced tight end in the pros (like a Heath Miller) than an elite receiver that can stretch the fielder. Much more traditional player than an Escobar.

Now we wait for Thursday when the Falcons draft exactly none of these players.