The Atlanta Falcons have quite a few roster needs in 2019, despite some recent articles suggesting otherwise. Even with the projected fourth and fifth-round compensatory selections for the losses of Dontari Poe and Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta could still look to add more picks come draft day to help fill out the roster in a cost-effective manner.
Recently, Trevor Sikkema of The Draft Network brought up an interesting scenario for the Falcons in his latest 2019 NFL mock draft. He has Atlanta trading the No. 14 overall pick and fourth-round pick to the Browns for a three-spot drop to No. 17 and two third-round picks.
They also somehow still get fan favorite Ed Oliver out of Houston at prime value. Using his mock draft as a template, the Falcons could end up having a draft with five picks within the first 100 selections. Our latest seven-round Atlanta mock draft is based on this scenario.
Round 1: DL Ed Oliver, Houston
There’s a lot of buzz about Ed Oliver going lower than his talent level would suggest and it all has to do with him being undersized. A lot of NFL coaches don’t know what to do with a guy who’s 6-foot-2, 285 pounds playing defensive tackle. Dan Quinn isn’t one of those NFL coaches. Oliver would do nothing outside of his comfort zone in Atlanta. He’d play in the 3-technique (lined up between the guard and tackle) almost every play and would be asked to either penetrate against the run or burst through the line to get to the quarterback.
Round 2: OG Michael Deiter, Wisconsin
Michael Deiter needs to be at the top of the list for Atlanta’s offensive line prospects. The four-year starter at Wisconsin is a perfect fit for their need at left guard. He’s also played left tackle and center during his time in college and could be a great choice to play guard for two years and then slide over to the middle when Alex Mack retires. In Deiter, the Falcons would have an instant plug-and-play starter who would be an upgrade over Andy Levitre and solidify the interior of the offensive line.
Round 3: EDGE Chase Winovich, Michigan
Chase Winovich might be best compared to Brooks Reed as both a leader and a pass rusher. However, that’s not a bad thing. For a long time, Reed was a solid all-around player who contributed to his team as more than just a run defender. Winovich would be the perfect base-down defensive end on the strong-side and could rotate with Vic Beasley to provide more of a pass rush while the team is in their run-down situations. Winovich is built like a pro-caliber defensive end, but flexibility and pass rushing questions may drop him. He plays the game with a high football IQ though, and should make an impact early.
Round 3 (from Browns): TE Jace Sternberger, Texas A&M
Don’t dismiss the possibility of adding another tight end, despite a Pro Bowl year from Austin Hooper. Dirk Koetter coming in shows that the Falcons want to be more creative on offense and using a pick on Jace Sternberger would help. He can align in the backfield, in the slot, out wide or in-line at tight end with equal efficacy as a receiver. Throw in some solid but unspectacular blocking and Sternberger is a bit of a project at tight end who can eventually become a well-rounded threat.
Round 3 (from Browns): OG Ben Powers, Oklahoma
After securing Michael Deiter, the Falcons could look towards Ben Powers in the third-round with the pick that was essentially swapped for their fourth-rounder. Powers may not have the athleticism required for an outside-zone scheme on face value, but he has shown the ability to complete reach blocks throughout his time at Oklahoma. In Atlanta, he would rarely pull or trap and could fit in quite well with the offensive line as a mauling right guard for years.
Round 4 (comp): WR Andy Isabella, Massachusetts
Andy Isabella would be a great fit as a slot receiver who could take Justin Hardy’s spot if he leaves. Isabella also could compete for the starting role as a kick and punt returner for the special teams units. Isabella is fast and small and he will draw comparisons to Taylor Gabriel. In college, Isabella was able to put up nearly 3,500 yards during his final three seasons using a combination of his speed, great route running and ability to find open holes in zones. His ability to burn a defense deep shouldn’t be slept on.
Round 5: QB Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
Atlanta’s starting quarterback situation is set for at least another five years with Matt Ryan, but they can look into a backup in the draft. Tyree Jackson could work behind Ryan. He’s very similar to Carolina’s Cam Newton in that he’s a large, powerful player with a great arm. However, like Newton he’s also inaccurate at times and needs to work on reading defenses and finding the soft spots in zones. Ryan would be the perfect guide for Jackson throughout the early portion of his career and could help turn him into at least a solid backup quarterback who finds work every year the way Josh McCown and Ryan Fitzpatrick do.
Round 5 (comp): OT Kaleb McGary, Washington
Kaleb McGary is definitely someone who could help this offense as a depth piece. He’s a four-year starter at right tackle and is built like Ryan Schraeder, coming in at 6-foot-7, 318 pounds. He’s a player with a high football IQ and solid athleticism, but his technique is pretty atrocious. Adding him as a project player in the fifth would not be a bad idea, though. Especially when the expectation for him long-term should be nothing more than what Ty Sambrailo was for the Falcons in 2018—a backup who can take over as a starter for a game or two in a pinch.
Round 6: CB Derrick Baity, Kentucky
Cornerback depth is a need with Robert Alford gone. The Falcons should look for another outside corner behind Desmond Trufant and Isaiah Oliver. Derrick Baity is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound cornerback who played at Kentucky and can press with some of the best of them. However, he’s not exactly the fastest athlete. That hasn’t stopped Dan Quinn from turning a late round prospect into a talented cornerback in the NFL efore. Baity will need some experience and likely will be relegated to special teams early.
Round 7: RB Bryce Love, Stanford
It’s rare when a player goes from Heisman hopeful to the seventh round of the draft. For some reason, NFL teams aren’t showing Bryce Love any love. He’s not going to wow anyone with his size, speed or athleticism, but he’s one of the smartest, hardest-running tailbacks in the draft. Love leaves a lot to be desired as a pass blocker and even more to be desired as a pass catcher. He’d be a gamble, but his potential as a running back and return specialist make it worth taking a flyer on him late in the last round.
