2015 Atlanta Falcons' Potential Draft-Pick Profile: OL B.J. Finney

Kansas State's B.J. Finney would be a great fit for the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 and beyond. He may not be an ideal fit for the zone-blocking scheme that Atlanta will employ under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, but he should be a valuable asset wherever he gets drafted.

Finney has the versatility to play either guard spot or center and could come in and compete for a starting role at left guard should the Falcons select him. Atlanta would have to feel like he's a good fit for what they do, because right now, he's looking more like Justin Blalock than Mark Schlereth for the scheme.

B.J. Finney

Offensive Lineman

Kansas State University

Combine/Pro Day Measurements

Height: 6'4" Weight: 318 pounds

Arm Length: 32" Hand Measurement: 10"

40-yard dash: 5.25 sec. 10-yard split: 1.84 sec.

20-yard shuttle: 4.76 sec. Bench Reps: 20 reps

Vertical Jump: 24.0" Broad Jump: 8'3"

Stats

2014: 13 Games Started at center

2013: 13 Games Started at center

2012: 13 Games Started at center

2011: 12 Games Started at center, 1 Game Started at right guard

2010: Redshirted

Scouting Report

Strengths

Finney has excellent hand usage to base his game around. He's a high-Football IQ player who understands how to call out protections and has the voice to make sure that his guys around him understand what the calls are supposed to adjust to.

He has solid lateral agility and is a very technical player up front. He hits the second level hard and plays with a ton of power. As a run blocker, he drives defenders back and wins right off the ball. As a pass protector, he understands who he needs to block and how to block them.

Weaknesses

Finney is a below-average athlete even for a center and likely won't be a great fit in the zone schemes. He's also not great at pulling or screen blocking and is best when he can stick in his little phone booth. He doesn't always get the best leverage and needs to improve on keeping his pad level low.

He's not nasty or dirty in the scrum and doesn't display the fire needed for interior line in the NFL. He's got a lot of work to do technically and bends at the waist to much. His flexibility needs to be improved, but that's not something easy to improve on.

How Does He Fit the Comrade Filter?

Finney was a three-year team captain for the Wildcats when he was at Kansas State and is a vocal leader needed in the middle of the line. He started all 52 possible games that he could have in college and wound up playing nearly every single one of them at center.

Finney has the kind of character that every team would want from a leader along their offensive line. He's never been arrested nor suspended. He also plays in honor of his father who had died before Finney even got to college.

Overview

There's a place on every NFL team for a guy like Finney. He may never be anything more than a career backup at guard and center, but that might still keep him in the league for a long time like it did for Eric Beverly of the Lions.

He's got talent and could turn into a good starting center for a power running team, but he's not an ideal fit for a zone scheme and would be counter productive within the confines of the scheme. Teams that can develop his technique for a year before playing him would be his best fit.

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

How He Would Fit into the Falcons' Plans

Atlanta could potentially take Finney if he falls into the fourth round or later. He should be there for them to pick for most of the third day and could make a ton of sense if they don't think that Joe Hawley is going to re-sign at center.

Finney would be tasked with the reserve center and guard role for his rookie season, and once everything clicked for him, the Falcons could start him at left guard or even center in 2016. He's a talented, albeit limited, player who could help the Falcons for a long time.

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN.com, CFBStats.com 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.

Follow @ScottCarasik