The Atlanta Falcons have nine picks in the 2019 NFL draft, but they likely won’t be keeping all of them given how general manager Thomas Dimitroff likes to make trades on draft day. Moving up in the early rounds seems to be the right strategy for the Falcons.
Any potential trade up would have to be focused on improving the defensive tackle spot next to Grady Jarrett. Out of every position on defense, that’s the biggest hole and adding more talent and size there would improve the unit most. Here are four players worth trading up for in the first or second round.
DT Ed Oliver (trade up to top 10)
Adding a freakish athlete who could destroy interior offensive linemen the way Ed Oliver does would be a perfect move. The problem here is that the Falcons would likely have to trade up into the top 10 to get him. Would Oliver make that kind of impact short term? Probably not.
However, in the long-term, he could be the next Aaron Donald. With that kind of ceiling paired with Grady Jarrett, the Falcons could have one of the most disruptive defensive interiors in the NFL. Those two could open up the entire pass rush to help the Falcons get back to being a top-10 defense that they were in 2017 with Dontari Poe in the middle.
DT Quinnen Williams (trade up to top 10)
Should the Raiders take Ed Oliver at No. 4 overall, that could mean Quinnen Williams would be available at No. 8 or No. 9 for the Falcons to trade up for. Williams is one of the top two players in the draft. Atlanta could truly dominate opposing offensive lines. Williams and Jarrett would be equally as effective against the run as the pass.
Williams’ best pro comparison is Ndamokung Suh. He eats double teams and allows linebackers to roam free. Adding a powerful nose tackle like that could help Deion Jones and the other linebackers step up their play as well. Bringing in Williams would cost a lot, but would be totally worth it.
DT Jerry Tillery (trade up from 45 to 25-30)
One surprise candidate Atlanta could trade up for is Jerry Tillery. Tillery compares best to a Richard Seymour or Stephon Tuitt-type defensive end/defensive tackle. Tillery isn’t afraid to play at nose tackle or the 3-technique defensive tackle role in either set. He eats double teams and penetrates the line effectively.
Tillery would fit well in the Falcons’ locker room as well. He had some issues in his early years at Notre Dame, but once he got his head on straight, he became one of the captains there. Coach Dan Quinn is creative in how he uses his defensive linemen and would make sure to put him in the position to succeed.
DT Dexter Lawrence (trade up from 45 to 25-30)
Sure, trading up for a pass rushing specialist could be helpful. However, adding a big-bodied Dontari Poe-clone in Dexter Lawrence could even more. Lawrence is a pure Ted Washington-type tackle in the middle of a defense and trading up to the end of the first round to secure him could pay huge dividends.
Lawrence would create more opportunities for the rest of the line due to his explosiveness. Having a 6-foot-4, 350 pound nose tackle could greatly improve the defense in the run game as well as he would eat up blocks in the base sets lining up next to Deadrin Senat.
