I may be biased, but when you look at the entire picture UGA alumnus Ben Jones is perhaps the likeliest candidate to be drafted by the Falcons in the second round. It certainly makes sense.
With Todd McClure slated to become a free agent in March and coming off a year in which injuries hampered him for at least a fraction of the season, Jones would fit in perfectly as "center of the future." The Falcons desperately need to shore up the offensive line, and Joe Hawley does not look the part of an NFL center (he'll likely stay at right guard).
So I don't believe I'm making any wild statements when I say that he's definitely someone to pay attention to at this year's NFL combine.
First of all, Jones is pretty much the consensus No. 2 center in the draft class, behind only Wisconsin's Peter Konz. He also projects to either the second or third round, which means the Falcons would have a strong shot at drafting the big guy.
Secondly, Jones had a great senior campaign with the Bulldogs. Though he's not the most highly-regarded lineman coming out of UGA this year (that belongs to Cordy Glenn), I can honestly say that he looked like the best O-lineman on the squad. Whereas Glenn could be inconsistent from week to week, Jones was the definition of consistency.
While at Georgia, he was durable, reliable, and played very well in Mike Bobo's "pro" style (almost Mularkey-esque) offense, and I could easily see him coming in to start as rookie and hold his own.
Is it the most exciting pick in the world? No. But after we gave up the world to take Julio Jones, I think a boring pick is just what the Falcons need.
Ben Jones NFL Draft Analysis - Boise State (2011 Season) (via TMBDraft)
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