Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft Big Board: Position-by-Position Rankings

The Atlanta Falcons have to make some tough decisions during the 2015 NFL draft and will need to be correct in those decisions. In looking over their best possible fits, the Falcons will have to stack their big boards based on what makes the most sense for their team moving forward.

New head coach Dan Quinn is going to have a huge say in how the Falcons use their draft picks, and all of them will have to fit his vision for what a successful NFL team looks like. The Falcons will have to fill their needs based on their big board as well. Running down each of the biggest needs from least important to most important, we'll put up the five best scheme fits at each position.

6. Linebacker

One of the lesser needs for the Falcons is at linebacker. Justin Durant and Brooks Reed were brought in to start next to Paul Worrilow in the defense. If the Falcons were going to bring in a linebacker, it should be someone who can upgrade over Worrilow or allow Durant to slide to middle linebacker.

Eric Kendricks, UCLA

Eric Kendricks would ideally play middle linebacker for the Falcons. He's the top coverage linebacker in the draft and would be a better run defender than Worrilow is. Kendricks also has a connection to current Falcons linebacker coach and former UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, playing under him in 2014.

Stephone Anthony, Clemson

Stephone Anthony would be another upgrade for the Falcons in the middle of the defense. He's a highly athletic, instinctive linebacker who can start for any team in the league. His weakness comes from his coverage skills, but he has the ability to get much better there with seasoning.

Shaq Thompson, Washington

Shaq Thompson is arguably the best all-around linebacker in the draft. However, with the Falcons, he'd have to play a weak-side linebacker role. He's undersized, but with his ball skills and tackling ability, the Falcons could have a starting linebacker corps that would be scary for the league to face.

Denzel Perryman, Miami

Denzel Perryman is a very talented linebacker who fits in with the Falcons' middle linebacker role well. He's a bit undersized, but he works hard and is able to fight through traffic against the run game despite it. He shouldn't drop too deep into coverage, though, because he'll get turned around easily.

Jordan Hicks, Texas

Jordan Hicks is an athletic linebacker, but he's very raw. Hicks has the same kind of athleticism that the average NFL safety has, but he plays linebacker. He's not very instinctive, but a lot of it has to do with his missing 19 games due to injuries during his sophomore and junior seasons.

5. Free Safety

The Falcons need a safety, but they don't need a strong safety who profiles similar to what they already have in William Moore. So guys like Landon Collins don't make sense for the Falcons' needs. Atlanta needs a guy who can play a center field role and tackle efficiently while making plays on the ball.

Eric Rowe, Utah

Eric Rowe might be the best safety in the entire draft. He makes plays on the ball and has a similar physical profile to that of a cornerback in a safety's body. He's very similar to Devin McCourty and would be a great fit as the deep safety in Dan Quinn's defense.

Damarious Randall, Arizona State

A late-riser at this point, Damarious Randall could be gone by the time the second round rolls around. However, he's very instinctive in coverage and understands how to drive on the ball from the deep third effectively. His tackling leaves a lot to be desired, though.

James Sample, Louisville

James Sample can play free safety or strong safety and understands how to attack the ball in coverage. Sample also is a great tackler and delivers a pop that can jar a ball out quickly. The questionable part to his game comes from the poor angles that he takes in run defense.

Bobby McCain, Memphis

Bobby McCain played cornerback in college and excelled when he was allowed to play in his zone and read the quarterback. He's a bit of a projection at safety because of his lack of experience there, but he has the tools and should do well as a center fielder within the defense.

Adrian Amos, Penn State

Adrian Amos is a bit larger than the standard free safety, but he's got the quickness and speed to be a great one. He gets too high with his tackling at times, but he shows everything needed to be a great single-high safety—once he gets enough reps to refine his skills there.

4. Running Back

After cutting Steven Jackson, the Falcons could really use a true short-yardage running back who can pass block and fit the zone-blocking scheme well. Zone backs have to be able to do one cut and then drive up the field after they find the holes in the defense.

Todd Gurley, Georgia

The best running back in the draft is Todd Gurley. He fits any scheme and runs with a combination of power and vision that few running backs have. The questions that Gurley has come from his knee injury suffered during his junior season at Georgia and whether he'll be 100 percent for the season.

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin

Melvin Gordon played in a scheme very similar to a zone-blocking scheme in college and displayed excellent vision. His ability to potentially become what Terrell Davis was in the zone scheme makes him worth a first-round pick. But he likely won't be a high first-round pick.

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska

Ameer Abdullah is a unique back that is very similar to Warrick Dunn in a lot of ways. He's a great running back who runs with speed and shiftiness that makes up for his lack of power. He has pass-blocking issues that he'll have to work through before he's trusted on third downs, but that's a correctable issue.

Jay Ajayi, Boise State

Jay Ajayi is a Clinton Portis clone. He is an ideal fit for the zone-blocking scheme because of his vision and cutting ability. But he's also an all-around running back who can make an impact in all three aspects that a running back needs to have talent in—as a receiver, as a runner and as a pass-blocker.

Synjyn Days, Georgia Tech

Synjyn Days is a bit raw as a running back. He's not used to catching the ball out of the backfield and played in a B-back role for the Yellow Jackets—a role that's closer to a traditional fullback running the ball than an NFL running back. Georgia Tech ran a zone scheme that would be similar to the Falcons'.

3. Tight End

The Falcons can't trust Jacob Tamme, Tony Moeaki and Levine Toilolo to be the only tight ends of consequence on the roster. They need someone with potential to be a top tight end and start for the Falcons and provide a great red-zone option.

Maxx Williams, Minnesota

One tight end that really makes sense for a team that runs a West Coast offense and a zone-blocking scheme like the Falcons is Maxx Williams. He's an excellent in-line blocker and can create separation on almost anyone. His similarity to Jason Witten makes him valuable in an offense.

Clive Walford, Miami

Clive Walford has the potential to be the next Alge Crumpler. He's a good blocker the same way that Crumpler was, but he's more athletic as a receiver. The Falcons could use him in the slot, in-line or as an H-back lined up behind the line of scrimmage.

Devin Funchess, Michigan

Devin Funchess is the Jimmy Graham of the 2015 draft class. He's an ideal wide receiver and tight end hybrid that would do well in the Kyle Shanahan offense as the No. 1 tight end in the passing game. The question here comes from his lack of run-blocking proficiency.

Darren Waller, Georgia Tech

Darren Waller is a similar player to Funchess, but he's a much better blocker and isn't the same caliber of athlete despite having much better straight-line speed. Atlanta would be wise to consider Waller for the discount value in the mid-to-late rounds as opposed to the second-round value that Funchess is.

Blake Bell, Oklahoma

A former quarterback who switched to tight end after he was beaten out for the starting quarterback job, Blake Bell is a case of having all of the physical tools and willingness to be great but none of the experience. Bell has the talent to be a potential Pro Bowl tight end if he can develop his route running.

2. Left Guard

Atlanta's second-biggest need is at left guard. With Jake Matthews at left tackle, Ryan Schraeder at right tackle, Jon Asamoah at right guard and Joe Hawley at center, the Falcons have four of their five offensive linemen pretty much set in stone. The switch to a zone-blocking scheme means the Falcons need to look for a different, more athletic type of lineman than they have been as well.

Ali Marpet, Hobart

Hobart is a Division III school, but Ali Marpet could have played football in the SEC if he had been the size coming out of high school that he is now. Marpet did extremely well at the Senior Bowl and showed that his athleticism and technique are pro-caliber and that he is the best fit for a zone scheme in the draft.

Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M

When healthy, Cedric Ogbuehi is a great fit for a zone-blocking scheme at either guard or tackle. He's a great athlete and has excellent size for the position. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL during his bowl game and wasn't able to go through the draft process properly due to the injury.

Jarvis Harrison, Texas A&M

The other Texas A&M guard prospect is Jarvis Harrison. He's a bit bigger than the normal zone-blocking guard, but he's extremely quick and understands angles well. Harrison's biggest attribute comes as a pass-blocker because he's one of the better pass-blocking guards in the draft.

Shaq Mason, Georgia Tech

Shaq Mason has the body of an offensive guard and the quickness of a fullback. Mason is a great run-blocking guard and has experience in the zone-blocking scheme from his college days. He needs to really improve as a pass-blocker before he's ready to be a starter.

Mitch Morse, Missouri

A name that is rising up boards with a late surge is Mitch Morse from Missouri. The ideal zone-blocking guard played tackle in college. As a tackle, he was a bit out-matched by speed rushers, but he would be protected on the inside by having a center and tackle alongside him.

1. Edge-Rusher

The biggest need that the Falcons have is at their "Leo" defensive end role. It's the primary edge-rushing role in Dan Quinn's scheme and requires a specific kind of talent for the spot to be effective. Ideal fits for the spot need to be quick off the ball, able to bend the edge and capable of creating consistent pressure.

Vic Beasley, Clemson

Vic Beasley is arguably the best edge defender in the draft this year. He's a 6'3", 246-pound rusher who's super-athletic and can attack the quarterback from multiple angles. Beasley compares favorably to Von Miller, Cliff Avril and Khalil Mack. Beasley is someone that the Falcons should sprint to the podium for in the first round.

Dante Fowler, Florida

Dante Fowler was recruited by Quinn on his way to the University of Florida. Fowler's best comparisons are Justin Houston and Terrell Suggs. He's likely going to be off the board when Atlanta picks at eight, but he's a very complete player who can stuff the run and rush the passer effectively.

Bud Dupree, Kentucky

The Falcons could take a chance on a true boom-or-bust prospect in Bud Dupree. Dupree has the potential to be a Shawne Merriman-level talent where he averages over 15 sacks a year in the "Leo" role for Quinn. Dupree needs to refine his hand usage and technique in both run defense and as a pass-rusher to get there.

Preston Smith, Mississippi State

If the Falcons can't get one of the top three edge-rushers at eight, they should look into taking Preston Smith should he fall to 42. Smith is a great fit for the scheme and could play in a similar role to what Michael Bennett plays in Seattle. Smith has great athleticism and just needs to work on rushing from the edge.

Owamagbe Odighizuwa, California - Los Angeles

Owa Odighizuwa is an underrated talent out of UCLA. He'd be a great fit should the first four guys be off the board. Odighizuwa has questions regarding his hip injuries sustained throughout his career, but if he passes with a clean bill of health, he'd be a great pick in the second round.

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, 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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