Positive News: Falcons prospective first-round draft targets and their NFL comparisons….read more

For the third straight draft cycle, the Falcons have the eighth overall pick, and most mock drafts predict that Atlanta will select Dallas Turner.

 

If it isn’t the Alabama product, every expert believes the Falcons will take a defender, whether it’s a cornerback or a pass rusher. What irritates me about these mock drafts isn’t the prospects; I could talk myself into almost any scenario for the Falcons.

What bothered me was the logic. Every draft analyst’s reasoning starts and concludes with roster need. Yes, the Falcons need a cornerback and a pass rusher, but Terry Fontenot has never drafted based on need and should not be expected to do so this time, even if the need is obvious.

Having said that, three of the top five most popular players mocked for Atlanta have some extremely appealing comps from ESPN:

 

Mitchell could be the first corner taken off the board, and the Falcons don’t have a clear starter opposite A.J. Terrell right now. Mitchell and Lattimore are the same size and ran similar 40-yard dash times, with Mitchell edging out the Saints star by three-hundredths of a second. The reason for the comp by Jeff Legwold is because of Mitchell’s “willingness to get right in the wide receiver’s wheelhouse at the line of scrimmage.” If Mitchell is the pick and turns out to be an All-Pro corner, that would be the best first-round pick of Terry Fontenot’s tenure in Atlanta.

Jared Verse to Trey Hendrickson

Outside of Dallas Turner, Verse is the most popular pick among Falcons fans, and it’s easy to see why. Verse is a powerful player who can beat tackles with raw strength, quickness, and bend around the edge, which is a lot like Trey Hendrickson, who has become one of the better pass rushers in the league. Ironically, Fontenot was in New Orleans next to Mickey Loomis when the Saints GM drafted both Lattimore and Hendrickson.

Quinyon Mitchell addressed Marshon Lattimore.
Mitchell might be the first corner off the board, and the Falcons currently lack a clear starter opposite A.J. Terrell. Mitchell and Lattimore are the same size and have similar 40-yard dash timings, with Mitchell beating the Saints star by three hundredths of a second. Jeff Legwold made the comparison based on Mitchell’s “willingness to get right in the wide receiver’s wheelhouse at the line of scrimmage.” If Mitchell is selected and proves to be an All-Pro cornerback, it will be the best first-round pick during Terry Fontenot’s tenure in Atlanta.