The Atlanta Falcons hold the No. 14 pick in this year’s NFL draft. While most superstars are selected inside the top 10, there have been a lot of excellent players chosen at that spot in recent years.
Here’s the top three who have been picked at No. 14 overall since the year 2000.
3. LB Thomas Davis – Panthers (2005)
Accolades: 3 Pro Bowls, 1 All Pro, 1 Player of the month award
NFL teams dream of getting a player like Thomas Davis in the draft. Not only did he become a franchise legend for the Panthers, he’s still playing at a high level despite being 36 years old and having already played 176 games. The Chargers got a good one when they signed Davis last month to a two-year deal. If the Falcons go best player available at No. 16, they could wind up getting a next-Thomas Davis kind of prospect like Michigan’s Devin Bush or LSU’s Devin White.
2. CB Darrelle Revis – Jets (2007)
Accolades: 7 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pros, 1 Super Bowl win
Cornerback was a major problem for Atlanta’s defense last year. Finding another capable starter to pair with Desmond Trufant slot should be a priority. Darrelle Revis set the standard for one-on-one cover corners during his time in the league. He posted 29 interceptions and 139 pass breakups in his 145-game career. This year’s top cornerback prospects include LSU’s Greedy Williams and Washington’s Byron Murphy.
1. FS Earl Thomas – Seahawks (2010)
Accolades: 6 Pro Bowls, 3 All-Pros, 1 Super Bowl win
The Falcons have their own diet version of Earl Thomas in Ricardo Allen, but nothing beats the original. Even on a Seattle defense loaded with future Hall of Famers, Thomas managed to stand out. His competitive nature, clutch factor and sheer ferocity make him unequaled as a deep safety in this era. Atlanta wont find another Earl Thomas in this draft class (or perhaps any other to come) but they’d probably settle for another high-quality defensive back with his ball skills.
