The Falcons could have gotten a much better 2015 NFL draft haul had they made a few different picks. Sure, they did make some excellent choices, but with a few tweaks, Atlanta could have already had some of their most important roster holes addressed from the first day of the Dan Quinn era. Let’s take a look at what could have been in a redraft.
Round 1, No. 8 overall: EDGE Vic Beasley, Clemson
Original pick: EDGE Vic Beasley, Clemson
This will get some flack but even today the best pick for the Falcons would have been Vic Beasley. They wound up lucking out with their running back situation in 2015 and had they chosen to take Todd Gurley, they would have never really seen what they had in Devonta Freeman. Beasley still has plenty of time and the potential to show that his breakout 2016 season was not a fluke.
Round 2, No. 42 overall: OL Ali Marpet, Hobart
Original pick: CB Jalen Collins, LSU
Jalen Collins was a solid cornerback for the Falcons in 2016 when Desmond Trufant went down, but had the Falcons skipped out on him, they wouldn’t have been any different today. Instead, bringing in Ali Marpet would have given them a center for the 2015 season and Marpet could have moved to guard once they signed Alex Mack.
Round 3, No. 73 overall: EDGE Danielle Hunter, LSU
Original pick: RB Tevin Coleman, Indiana
This one hurts. Coleman was a good running back pick but pairing Danielle Hunter teaming with Vic Beasley in pass rush situations would have been a far superior option. Hunter and Beasley might have been a dominant pass rushing team because Beasley is a better fit as a complementary rusher.
Round 4, No. 107 overall: WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland
Original pick: WR Justin Hardy, East Carolina
Justin Hardy has been a solid No. 4 wide receiver, but the Falcons could have gotten a legitimate star with Stephon Diggs instead of spending the massive amount of money they did on Mohamed Sanu in free agency. Pairing Diggs with Julio Jones would have made picking Calvin Ridley in round one last year unnecessary as well, allowing them to address other areas.
Round 5, No. 137 overall: DT Grady Jarrett, Clemson
Original pick: DT Grady Jarrett, Clemson
Why fix what’s not broken? The trade up for Grady Jarrett in 2015 was the best move for the Falcons at the time and remains so. He’s one of the top five defensive tackles in the NFL and having a team of Jarrett, Hunter and Beasley teaming up together for over half a decade would have been nice.
Round 7, No. 225 overall: OG La’el Collins, LSU
Original pick: OL Jake Rodgers, Eastern Washington
La’el Collins had no business being here this late. Considering the Falcons didn’t trade for Andy Levitre until right before the beginning of the season, they could have prevented themselves from needing to sign Chris Chester by drafting Collins. A 2015 line consisting of Jake Matthews, Andy Levitre, Ali Marpet, La’el Collins and Ryan Schraeder would have been a tremendous group that could have grown together.
Round 7, No. 249 overall: RB Zach Zenner, South Dakota St.
Original pick: CB Akeem King, San Jose State
Akeem King was a solid enough depth pick, but in Zach Zenner Atlanta would have landed an all-around power back to team with Devonta Freeman to get those tough short yardage runs. Antone Smith would have been the speed running back for 2015, and then the Falcons could pick a RB higher in the draft in 2016 like Derrick Henry or Kenyan Drake.
