Atlanta Falcons Top Needs, Fits for 2015 NFL Draft to Build for the Future
The Atlanta Falcons are a better team than their 6-10 record suggests that they were. They had issues with coaching and with talent level. The first has been addressed and the second is in the process of being addressed. The Falcons went through free agency and addressed some issues.
But the draft is where the real damage would be done. Despite this being one of the weaker drafts in a while, the Falcons have a top-eight selection in the first round and have eight picks overall to address their needs. Atlanta could truly have a good team in 2015 with a good draft, but they need to find the right fits.
In breaking down each position of need, multiple fits will be listed, including some early-round picks as well as some mid-to-later-round fits. Follow along for the complete breakdown of Atlanta's needs.
Pass-Rusher
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The Falcons had one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL during the 2014 season. They were second-to-last in the NFL in sacks, taking down the quarterback just 22 times all season. Atlanta can't create turnovers or have a proper Dan Quinn defense without a true edge-rusher.
As of now, the starting "Leo" edge-rusher is Kroy Biermann—the same guy who had just 4.5 sacks as the Falcons' featured pass-rusher in 2014. And yes, Atlanta did improve their pass rush by bringing in O'Brien Schofield, Brooks Reed and Adrian Clayborn to rotate with Biermann off the edge.
But the need remains for a proper "Leo." The Falcons could be one of the best defenses in the NFL if they can turn their pass rush around. The Falcons can get a 10-plus-sack player through the draft, and that would greatly enhance their pass rush in 2015.
Dante Fowler, Florida
Fowler is arguably the best player in the draft. He's familiar with the Falcons' current head coach, as he played under Quinn at Florida during his freshman year. He'd be an instant starter in the "Leo" role, and should he fall to the Falcons at No. 8 overall, they would be lucky to have him there. He's a perfect fit off the field for Atlanta as well, as he's been described often as a teddy bear off the field.
Vic Beasley, Clemson
Arguably the best fit for the Falcons scheme in the 2015 draft is Beasley. The Clemson grad is one of the best pure pass-rushers in the draft, and his athleticism is off the charts. The Falcons could be getting the next Von Miller if they select Beasley. The biggest difference there is that Beasley would play more of a pure defensive end and off-set pass-rushing linebacker role, where Miller is 100 percent a linebacker.
Randy Gregory, Nebraska
Gregory may have some off-field questions, but he's the ideal player for the Falcons on the field as a "Leo" pass-rusher. He's a bit underweight at just 238, but the Falcons could get him to gain some weight at the next level. If he gets up to around 250, his best comparison looks like a Simeon Rice comparison, where he struggles for a year or two before becoming a Pro Bowl player.
Danielle Hunter, Louisiana State
Hunter is an extremely raw, malleable block of clay that the Falcons could turn into their top pass-rusher should he take well to coaching. His raw athleticism should put him higher on Atlanta's board than most and could get him selected on the second day of the draft. He's another "Leo" fit and compares very similarly to Barkevious Mingo from the LSU Tigers team a couple of years ago.
Ryan Delaire, Towson
Delaire is a great athlete with first-round athleticism and very good film from the Division I-FCS level. He'd be a top "Leo" fit who turns the corner well and can use his hands to generate pressure. His run defense is a bit of a question and should have him slip past the fourth round, but if he's there in the fifth, it wouldn't be shocking to see the Falcons bring him in.
Left Guard
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After releasing Justin Blalock, the Falcons have a huge hole on the line next to Joe Hawley and Jake Matthews at starting left guard. Sure, the Falcons have a recovering Sam Baker and a pair of newly signed options in Jared Smith and Mike Person.
But none of those guys come off as starters in the zone-blocking scheme that new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is going to run. Atlanta needs to get an athletic starter through the draft, and there are quite a few guards who would fit the Falcons' scheme in 2015.
Cam Erving, Florida State
The Florida State center once played left tackle and looks like the kind of player who could fill in at any of the five starting offensive line spots. Erving has the frame and talent to start right away for the Falcons at left guard, and with his knowledge of a similar scheme to what Atlanta plays, he could wind up playing center past the 2015 season if Hawley isn't re-signed in the spring of 2016.
Ali Marpet, Hobart
Marpet is an amazing athlete who can fit at any spot on the offensive line outside of center. He's got great size at 6'4" and 307 pounds and can fire off the line extremely well. He's also a great pass-blocker who sets his feet well and understands how to use his hands to keep control of a defender's pads. The biggest question for Marpet is how he'll adjust from the Division III competition he played in college.
Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
Ogbuehi once played left guard next to Luke Joeckel and across the formation from Jake Matthews at Texas A&M. He's a good athlete, but he's coming off of an ACL surgery and might miss part of his rookie season. He can play either right tackle or guard in the zone scheme and should be a long-term starter as long as he can heal properly from his injury.
Shaq Mason, Georgia Tech
The Falcons need to continue to bring in local talent, and Mason is an ideal situation for them. Mason is a great run-blocker who will need to learn how to pass-block within the confines of the Falcons offense. He's a good fit for a right guard more than a left guard, but with Jon Asamoah there, the Falcons might have to move the veteran over to the left side.
Jarvis Harrison, Texas A&M
Harrison's a little bit bigger than the average zone-blocking left guard with his 6'4", 330-pound build. However, he's got great quickness and surprising power behind his punch that would allow him to make bigger holes for the running backs than they have been seeing. Add in his already solid pass-blocking, and Harrison could be a steal should he slip to the fourth round.
Free Safety
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Atlanta let Dwight Lowery leave the team and head to the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. The 2014 starter at free safety was one of the most impactful defenders for the Falcons. He's going to be replaced by either Dezmen Southward or a 2015 draft pick.
Southward's fit in the new scheme is questionable because he doesn't seem like a corner, but he does have the athleticism to stick at safety if they feel comfortable with his instincts. Atlanta has the talent to make an impact here, but they should look to the draft for competition for Southward.
Eric Rowe, Utah
When looking for a deep safety, the Falcons need to make sure they go after someone who has prior cornerback experience the way Rowe does. He's likely earned a draftable grade on all 32 teams' boards due to his overall talent level. Rowe has the athleticism to be a corner, but his best fit is as a deep safety where he could use his high-level athleticism to assist in run game and plays on the ball versus the pass.
Durell Eskridge, Syracuse
Eskridge is a taller, longer safety who is used to playing a ton of deep coverage at safety for the Syracuse Orange. He doesn't have the best straight-line speed, but he makes up for it with excellent lateral agility and intelligent plays on the ball. He's also not afraid to mix it up in run defense and could turn into one of the best all-around safeties in the class when he puts it all together.
Adrian Amos, Penn State
A mid-round safety who will fit right in athletically with the Falcons' new model for their safety position is Amos. He's not the best safety in the draft and is middling as a run defender, but he does make plays on the ball and can play zones very effectively. If the Falcons can get him in the mid-rounds of the draft, they could have a potential steal on their hands for a deep safety.
Bobby McCain, Memphis
If the Falcons want someone who can fit in similarly to the Quinn scheme as what Earl Thomas did, they could take a look at McCain in the mid-rounds. He's smaller at just 5'10" and 195 pounds, but he is extremely athletic and attacks the ball when it's in midair. As a college cornerback, the question will come from his run fits and coverage position switch.
Isaiah Johnson, Georgia Tech
A potential late-round fit that could thrive within the Falcons new defense is Isaiah Johnson. He played more in a Cover 2 concept defense at the college level, but he should be very effective playing center field for the Falcons if he can develop properly. He likely won't start instantly unless the Falcons wind up getting a ton of injuries through the first couple of strings.
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Tight End
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After losing Tony Gonzalez during 2014's offseason, the Falcons essentially punted the position by having just Levine Toilolo and Bear Pascoe on the roster for that spot. Kyle Shanahan coming in and taking the reins of the Falcons offense makes tight end look like a huge hole.
The Falcons have brought back Mickey Shuler and brought in Jacob Tamme and Tony Moeaki to compete for rosters spots at the position. But the Falcons need someone who can take over the starting tight end role and be the second-most reliable option in an offense that requires a competent starting tight end.
Devin Funchess, Michigan
Funchess is more of a wide receiver with H-back tendencies than a true tight end. He's someone who could emulate a Jimmy Graham-type player for a Falcons squad that has been victimized by him too many times for the past five seasons. Funchess will have to improve drastically as a blocker to start as the in-line tight end for the Falcons, but he could be a great No. 2 early in his career.
Maxx Williams, Minnesota
Williams is much closer to that pure in-line tight end. He'll likely have to be selected with a second-round pick should he fall to the Falcons pick. Atlanta would use him as the starting tight end and could have him in quite a few packages early in his career, as he's already an effective blocker and receiver. The things missing from his game come from the polish level more than anything.
Clive Walford, Miami
Walford is someone who understands the subtleties of the game when it comes to route running and receiving the ball. He understands how to attack zones and set up defenders with stutter steps and hard breaks. His blocking could use a bit of work, though. He's been tasked to block quite often for the Hurricanes, and while he's willing, the technique just isn't there yet.
Darren Waller, Georgia Tech
Waller is a local player who understands blocking concepts and already looks like he could be a good run-blocker for the Falcons. He also has the frame and quickness to be a very talented receiver in Shanahan's passing game. The question comes from how well he adjusts from Georgia Tech's college option offense to a zone-blocking scheme that likes to force balls deep often.
Blake Bell, Oklahoma
Bell is a former quarterback who understands how to find soft spots in zone coverages while he runs his routes. However, as just a first-year starter at tight end in 2014, he doesn't have the library of game film that makes a projection easy. A unique thing that you could see on his game film was how quickly he progressed despite being extremely raw at the position—an important trait for a project like Bell to have.
Nickel Cornerback
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The Falcons need to draft a cornerback who fits into Dan Quinn's cornerback mold. Whether they start at nickel as a rookie or not, they need to have the same kinds of traits that the current Seattle cornerbacks tend to have—quick, tall, physical and extremely football savvy.
With the Falcons having solid cornerbacks on the roster to compete for the role in Ricardo Allen and Phillip Adams, this need isn't at the top of the list, but taking a couple of mid-to-late-round cornerbacks wouldn't be surprising in the grand scheme of things.
Byron Jones, UConn
Jones has solid film, but his athleticism is out of this world. He also has the physicality and produces the results when playing cornerback that could get him drafted in the first. However, should he be there in the third round or later, the Falcons should consider taking him, as the athleticism is very rare. Atlanta would likely play him as the nickel early and teach him how to play outside later.
Nick Marshall, Auburn
Marshall is a former quarterback for the Auburn Tigers. Athletically, he compares very favorably to Richard Sherman and should be a similar situation. Sherman played wide receiver in college before converting to cornerback in the pros, and he's now one of the best in the league. Marshall could do something very similar with his conversion, and using his knowledge of offenses, he could be a dangerously good corner.
Josh Shaw, Southern Cal
Shaw might always be thought of as the idiot who fell out of a window and then lied about it. But he's still a very solid corner and understands the technical nuances of the position already. He is extremely good at press coverage and can mirror receivers very well. The Falcons will also love most of his athletic profile, with the only real question being his arm length.
Julian Wilson, Oklahoma
The athletic profile that Wilson has fits the Falcons' new scheme perfectly. He's a taller, longer cornerback who can quickly and easily get to the ball. He has tendencies to knock balls away and gamble a bit when he's playing in coverage. However, he's more of a boundary corner than a field corner for the Sooners and will have to expand his range in the pros.
Ladarius Gunter, Miami
Gunter is a good football player who has the traits that Quinn loves, like length and physicality. However, his lack of quickness will cause him to fall later in the draft than expected. He also doesn't have amazing film that would project him to Day 1 or Day 2. He's a project and will need the right coaches to pull as much out of him as they possibly can.
Power-Style Running Back
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Currently, the Falcons have what looks to be a good starter for a zone-blocking scheme in Devonta Freeman and an explosive change-of-pace back in Antone Smith. But they don't have someone who can get the tough yards in the short-yardage situations and get touchdowns in the goal-line situations.
The best zone-blocking backs have a great mix of power and speed. Freeman could be a good primary back the way Warrick Dunn was for Atlanta in the mid-2000s, but the Falcons would be better off pairing Freeman with a T.J. Duckett type or having him slide back to a change-of-pace role himself.
Todd Gurley, Georgia
The Falcons could have arguably the best running game in the NFL if they got Todd Gurley at the top of the second round and ran a platoon of Gurley, Freeman and Smith. Gurley would push Freeman to the change-of-pace role after he got fully healthy. The only real scare that comes from Gurley is the ACL injury that he suffered during his final college season.
Jay Ajayi, Boise State
If the Falcons want to duplicate the zone-blocking success of the Denver Broncos of the 1990s, they should look into taking the next Clinton Portis. Ajayi's ideal value for Atlanta would be in the third round of the draft, but he has the potential to be the next Portis. They have very similar running styles, frames and athleticism. The only question is whether Ajayi has the same vision as Portis.
David Johnson, Northern Iowa
Johnson impressed at the Senior Bowl with his one-cut style to his game while running the ball. He's also a very solid pass-blocker and can catch out of the backfield. The Falcons could get him in the fourth round or later and have a legitimate competitor or complement for Devonta Freeman within the new offensive scheme. If Johnson is there in the fourth, he would be a steal too.
Zach Zenner, South Dakota State
Zenner is a bigger-bodied running back who was highly productive at the Division I-FCS level. He's got quickness and power to be effective in the zone scheme, but his real value comes from his vision and balance. Zenner is a unique player for his position because he may not start early in his career or get drafted high, but he still has the potential to be the most productive back in the class.
Synjyn Days, Georgia Tech
Days is a former quarterback for the local Yellow Jackets who wound up converting to B-back during his senior season and putting up the best year of his career after the switch. He improved every single game, and based on the zone concepts that Paul Johnson uses, the Falcons could have a running back here if they take him that would make an instant impact on the Alfred Morris level.
All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats (subscription required), ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He's also a Draft Analyst for Pro Football Spot.
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