Teams are putting the finishing touches on their preparation as the 2015 NFL Draft is nearly here.
To preview the draft for the Atlanta Falcons, I got together with Freddie Boston of Blogging Dirty. Below are my questions followed by his answers.
1. What are the team’s biggest needs heading into the draft and how might they address them?
"The Falcons ranked dead last in both total defense and pass defense last year. The most obvious need is an edge rusher, and they are positioned well to pick one up with the eighth overall pick. If Dante Fowler Jr. or Vic Beasley is there at No. 8, they would be smart to draft one of them. If not, Shane Ray or Bud Dupree could come into play. Help to the secondary is also important at some point in the draft. On offense, they will likely be in the hunt for a running back and tight end."
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2. What needs to happen for this draft to be considered a success?
"The defense has to improve. The Falcons’ offense will be strong again, especially if they can add a talented running back. With Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, they are more than capable of putting up points. For the draft to be a success, the Falcons have to find someone who can hit the quarterback, and a talented cornerback to pair with Desmond Trufant."
3. What in your mind would make this draft a failure?
"Simply put, if they can’t do just that. If they can’t find an elite pass rusher at some point, they will struggle to contain the likes of Drew Brees and Cam Newton next season, and that’s just looking at the quarterbacks within their own division. The talent is there in this draft, general manager Thomas Dimitroff just needs to find the best fits for Dan Quinn’s defense."
4. What is a bold prediction for your team this draft?
"After taking a pass rusher in the first round, I could see the Falcons trading back into the first round to pickup either Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon. This isn’t the popular view, but taking one of these guys could make the Falcons’ offense one of the best in the NFL and incredibly hard to stop. That itself would take pressure off the defense."
5. What is a draft angle the general public might not be aware of for your team?
"Keep an eye on Darren Waller on day two or three. The 6’6″ wide receiver is one of the most intriguing prospects in my opinion. Could he make the move to tight end in the Falcons system? It’s a possibility. With the Falcons looking to add defenders in the opening few rounds, tight end might not be the biggest priority. This guy has a ton of potential and could be so dangerous against mismatched defenders. Whether he can transition to tight end or sticks at wide receiver, he would be another pass-catching threat for Matt Ryan."
For full Falcons coverage, check out Blogging Dirty.
Next: 2-Round 2015 NFL Mock Draft