How the Atlanta Falcons Can Rebuild in the 2016 NFL Draft
The Atlanta Falcons didn’t think they were in need of a rebuild when they started last season 5-0, but a 3-8 finish to the year made it clear there were major holes on the roster that needed to be addressed.
The 2016 NFL draft offers few opportunities to address those issues since the Falcons hold only five picks. They will have very little room for error.
A bad draft would likely mean the end of general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s tenure in Atlanta after some of his previous early-round draft picks, including offensive tackle Sam Baker, center Peter Konz and defensive tackle Peria Jerry, have disappointed.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
There is a path to fixing many of Atlanta’s problems through this draft, however, if the Falcons make good selections with the picks they have.
Let’s take a look at some smart moves the Falcons can make in this draft, including players they should target and those they should avoid.
Smart Moves
Invest in Boring Positions
The Falcons have had no trouble under Dimitroff finding difference-makers at positions to which people often pay attention. They’ve drafted a franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan, one of the best receivers in the league in Julio Jones, a franchise left tackle in Jake Matthews and a No. 1 cornerback in Desmond Trufant.
The less flashy positions are where they’ve struggled to draft quality players, which is why they’ve struggled over the last three seasons.
They need help along the defensive line and at linebacker after finishing last in the league with 19 sacks. The last two seasons they’ve had to give significant snaps to players like Tyson Jackson and Joplo Bartu (whom they traded to Jacksonville late in the season) because they had no better options at those positions.
Atlanta needs better guard play as well. While the Falcons gave up 32 sacks last season, tied for eighth-lowest in the league, opponents were able to put pressure on the interior of their offensive line consistently. That usually resulted in easy sacks or at the very least forced Ryan to move off his spot.
Newly signed center Alex Mack joins two solid tackles in Matthews and Ryan Schraeder. If the Falcons don’t get better guard play, however, they will continue allowing Ryan to get pressured up the middle.
Keep The Assets
The trade that moved the Falcons up to No. 6 overall to get Jones in the 2011 draft was ultimately a win for Atlanta. Jones is now one of the top wideouts in the league.
The unintended consequence was that the move limited the Falcons’ options in the rest of that year’s draft and in 2012. Atlanta sent five draft picks to Cleveland: its first-, second- and fourth-round picks in 2011 and its first- and fourth-round picks in 2012.
Those picks could have filled significant needs for Atlanta. While the Falcons can look back on the move fondly because of what Jones has become, they have just five picks this year and need to hold on to every one of them to acquire as much young talent as possible. Any trade that doesn’t result in more picks for the Falcons is one they shouldn’t make.
Players to Target
Georgia LB Leonard Floyd
A solid start to this draft for Atlanta begins with finding a pass-rusher. The Falcons saw some promise from rookie Vic Beasley last season but could use another player to complement him.
Georgia’s Leonard Floyd would not only provide an athletic defender who can rush the quarterback, but he would also fulfill another need Atlanta has at linebacker.
Floyd is 6’6” and was among the top five linebackers at the NFL Scouting Combine in the 40-yard dash with a 4.60. His speed lets him cover space well in pass coverage, something the Falcons lacked at linebacker in 2015. He also gets after opposing passers off the edge and on inside blitzes. He recorded 17 sacks over three seasons with the Bulldogs.
Arkansas G Sebastian Tretola
The Arkansas running game requires quality offensive line play, and Sebastian Tretola was an integral part of that attack in 2015. Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme requires quick linemen who can move. Tretola has that mobility.
In 2014, Tretola allowed just one sack all season and had only four penalties, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. The Falcons need to upgrade their interior pass protection, and Tretola may be their answer.
West Virginia S Karl Joseph
The Falcons need talent at both safety spots following the release of William Moore. Their two starting safeties at the moment would be Ricardo Allen and Kemal Ishmael.
West Virginia safety Karl Joseph led the nation with five interceptions last season before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in October. Joseph hits hard and also has good ball skills. Campbell wrote that if Joseph hadn’t gotten hurt, some teams would be considering taking him in the first round.
Joseph probably wouldn’t start right away coming off his injury. His presence, though, would provide some competition for Allen and Ishmael and the other safeties on the roster. Then when Joseph is healthy, he could compete for one of the starting positions.
Players to Avoid
Notre Dame LB Jaylon Smith
Jaylon Smith won the Butkus Award last season as the nation’s top linebacker in 2015, recording 113 tackles. Unfortunately, he is unlikely to get back on the field this year.
A torn ACL and MCL ended Smith’s season in Notre Dame’s Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State. He was once projected as a first-round pick, but now he will probably miss his rookie year.
Smith is a great player and may actually become one of the best linebackers to come out of this class. Atlanta just does not have enough picks for Dimitroff to justify using one on a player likely to miss the entire 2016 season—not when his job may be on the line.
LSU G Vadal Alexander
The Falcons are looking for a long-term answer at guard, but they also want a player who fits the mold for linemen in their offense. LSU’s Vadal Alexander doesn’t have the physical tools to fit in their zone-blocking scheme.
Alexander’s greatest weakness is what the Falcons need most from their guards: pass-blocking. Campbell notes that Alexander “lumbers around and is slow-footed” for a pass-blocker in the NFL.
In a division where they will face Gerald McCoy, Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei twice a year, the Falcons need agile guards who can protect the quarterback. If the team is considering taking a guard in the second round, it should go with someone quicker than Alexander.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
