Atlanta Falcons 2017 NFL Draft Recap

[Burns]

Falcons Add 6 Players in 2017 NFL Draft​

Atlanta, GA --- The Atlanta Falcons entered the 2017 NFL Draft owning 6 picks, each slotted at 24th in round 1-6, and they made the most of them. No trades were made, but the Falcons believe they got the best value they possibly could at each of those picks. With that being said, let's take a look at Atlanta's 2017 Rookie Class.

Round 1, Pick 24: CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State

This pick filled a huge need for Atlanta. After letting Robert Alford walk in Free Agency, the Falcons found themselves scrambling to find a corner to start opposite of Desmond Trufant. There weren't many options in free agency, so enter Marshon Lattimore, the 4th ranked CB in this year's draft. At 6'0 195, Lattimore has good size for the CB position. He's slotted start at the #2 CB slot, opposite of Trufant. Lattimore is hopefully going to be one of the answers for a Falcons' defense that was middle of the pack last year.

Round 2, Pick 56: WR John Ross, Washington

The Falcons turned to the offensive side of the ball in Round 2, selecting WR John Ross out of Washington. Ross is electric. He runs a 4.35 40, and is always finding ways to make plays. Ross will be competing with Justin Hunter to start at the slot receiver position, and with his playmaking ability, he'll have a shot to do great things in this league. Here's what one NFL Scout had to say about him:

"John Ross is probably the fastest player in college football right now and I think he's going to end up being a better pro than Brandin Cooks. (Jake) Browning is a solid quarterback, but Ross is making his life really easy."

Look for Ross to also have a chance to return kicks, an area that the Falcons would definitely like to improve on this season.

Round 3, Pick 88: RB Jeremy McNichols, Boise State

This was definitely a value over need pick for Atlanta. The Falcons are already deep at RB, with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman returning from last season. However, with McNichols still being on the board at this point, there was no way Atlanta could pass him up. McNichols, nicknamed "McWeapon" by his teammates in college, can do it all. He's an every down back who has an exceptional blend of power and speed. On top of that, he's one of the best pass catching backs in this draft, as he caught over 50 passes in both of the seasons he started. Even more, McNichols is a workhorse. He averaged over 30 touches a game over his Junior season. During his Sophomore and Junior seasons at Boise State, McNichols accounted for the most total TDs by a RB in that span. This kid can do it all, and the Falcons feel they definitely got a steal in Round 3. He'll compete with Tevin Coleman for the #2 RB spot, but no matter the outcome of that position battle, expect The McWeapon to get plenty of touches in his rookie season.

 

[Burns]

Round 4, Pick 120: DT Caleb Brantley, Florida

In the 4th round, the Falcons once again turned to the defensive side of the ball, selecting DT Caleb Brantley out of Florida. Brantley, listed at 6'2" 314 lbs, is someone the Falcons hope to use in order to help stop the run. With an aging defensive line, this was definitely a great pickup by Atlanta. Brantley is a sure-fire tackler, who loves to blow up the run game. He's not known as much of a pass rusher, but he's athletic for his size, and will definitely be given some playing time in his rookie season.

Round 5, Pick 152: WR Damore'ea Stringfellow, Ole Miss

In the 5th round, the Falcons went back to the offensive side of the ball, selecting the WR out of Ole Miss, Damore'ea Stringfellow. Besides having arguably the best name in the draft, Stringfellow is a great possesion receiver. Similar to Laquon Treadwell, Stringfellow is a good-sized athlete with the height, length and build to box-out defenders and control the catch point. He is a strong leaper and attacks the ball with his hands, using flexible body control and tracking skills to high-point the ball. Stringfellow isn't a track star by any means, but he accelerates well off the line to quickly get into his route with athletic twitch and movements. He definitely needs some work on his route running, but Stringfellow has the makings of a quality receiver in this league.

Round 6, Pick 184: DE Deatrich Wise Jr, Arkansas

With their final pick in this year's draft, The Falcons looked to add more depth to the defensive line by selecting DE Deatrich Wise Jr. out of Arkansas. Listed at 6'6" 271lbs, Wise is a force to be reckoned with. He has great potential as a pass rusher, but definitely needs to shore up his abilities stopping the run game in order to see significant playing time with the Falcons. Wise is successful because of his length and long arms. He’s able to keep blockers off his frame and quickly disengage. That arm length also helps him get his hands on the quarterback or football. His non-stop motor is another thing that helps his production. Wise doesn’t quit on the play and will routinely be seen chasing the ball several yards down the field. Look for this guy to potentially be an impact player down the road if he can develop skills in the areas he needs to.

With that being said, this raps up our recap of the Falcons' 2017 NFL Draft. Atlanta selected some exciting players, and should have a great shot to contend for a Super Bowl once again.

For all things Atlanta Falcons, stay tuned to The Falcoholic.

 

[dspbuckle]

This addition of college players really enhances these draft articles. Great job everyone!

 

[dspbuckle]

So many offensive picks to move the ball. I'm going to need to watch some ATL preseason to see what's going on over there with the vets. I didn't catch much last season so I'm out the loop.

 

[Burns]

So many offensive picks to move the ball. I'm going to need to watch some ATL preseason to see what's going on over there with the vets. I didn't catch much last season so I'm out the loop.

We had a Top 3 offense and a middle of the pack defense. The offensive picks were mainly for depth. Ross and McNichols will definitely see time though. Lattimore should start at #2 CB and the other guys will have to earn their spot