Atlanta Falcons Mock Draft: Who Are the Experts Projecting to the Falcons?

After a quick scan of several mock drafts, it's abundantly clear that since the Atlanta Falcons don't have a pick in the first round of the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, no one's quite sure where the team wants to go.

There are a few reasons why this is the case.

First, with 54 draft picks to be decided before Atlanta's pick, there's no real way to know who will still be around at No. 55. There's also the fact that Atlanta may be in a position to take the best player available and not fill a team need.

There are just too many variables in the first 54 picks to have a solid grasp of what Atlanta might do. But that's not going to stop people from trying.

I looked at five mock drafts, and every one of them took players on the offensive side of the ball with the Falcons second-round pick. But that's where the likenesses ended. Of those five mock selections, four different players were chosen at two different positions.

D. Orlando Ledbetter, of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, suggests the Falcons will take Cal offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz. Mitchell started 51 games at tackle—both left and right—and wowed scouts at the Senior Bowl where he took on some of the best pass-rushers in the country and manhandled them.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. took a different offensive tackle, Illinois lineman Jeff Allen. "The Falcons have a need here, and Allen could help early on the right side with upside at left."

Notice that both of the lineman suggested by the first two experts have experience on both sides of the center. Atlanta head coach Mike Smith values versatility in a big way.

Rob Rang, of CBS Sports, didn't go with a lineman at all. His choice for the Falcons at pick No. 55 was Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen. "Tony Gonzalez is an unquestioned first ballot Hall of Famer but he's a shadow of his former self. Allen doesn't have elite speed but possess soft hands and can contribute as a run blocker, as well."

The only player that came up twice in the five mock drafts I examined was Iowa State offensive tackle Kelechi Osemele.

Walter Football suggests that the Falcons will select Osemele to fill a need, and that they have been looking at him for some time. "The Falcons have to make two upgrades to the offensive line (left tackle, right guard). They've shown a ton of interest in Kelechi Osemele."

The Drafttek selection of Osemele was made because of his upside as well as the fact that he's a high-character athlete. "He's a 6'6" 333 pound terror in the running game. He needs work on technique and footwork in the pass protection game and fits the Thomas Dimitroff character profile."

Osemele has intelligence and is extremely strong. But as I mentioned earlier that Smith loves a versatile lineman, Osemele fills that bill too. Osemele played at guard and tackle in college, both of which are needs for Atlanta.