Atlanta Falcons 2018 Draft Shape Review

With the 2018 NFL Draft behind us, it’s fourth dimension to create the review procedure on how each squad stacks upwards amongst the selections they’ve made. Though the Falcons exclusively had half dozen selections inward this year’s draft, General Manger Thomas Dimitroff made it count picking top halt talent. Perhaps the coin volition hold out made, as well as the returns volition hold out plentiful from their top 2 choices, spell skillful depth was achieved. Can the Falcons instruct dorsum on rail as well as force for some other run, fourth dimension volition tell, let’s review… 

Atlanta Falcons 2018 Draft Class Review:

Round 1 – Pick 26 (26)

Calvin Ridley (WR)

While many conversations guide hold been had as well as the theme of course of didactics is the talent grade of one-time Alabama production Calvin Ridley. Many of my colleagues guide hold written off Calvin placing opinions that he is undersized, doesn’t possess the top halt talent needed for a pro broad receiver, is also sparse as well as lacks the overall size to dominate at the side past times side level. Let ADF take those notions equally nosotros are believers inward what Ridley tin give the axe become. As the conversations continued, the overarching determination seemed to reside inward the fact that Ridley would exclusively instruct productive inward the NFL inward the slot position, 1 time to a greater extent than nosotros disagree.

Calvin Ridley is a natural athlete that possesses great speed, a magical start measuring off the line, his road running could challenge the top receivers inward the NFL inward the side past times side few years, the news to uncovering room where no room exists, possesses fantastic afterward the grab ability, potential super star hands, as well as the listing goes on as well as on. ADF is a theatre believer that Ridley tin give the axe human both the exterior as well as the slot which should hold out the example spell playing inward Atlanta. The argue for all of Ridley’s naysayer’s reins quite evident to us equally his production savage off inward his in conclusion 2 seasons where his junior twelvemonth was the nearly productive. Moving his talents to Atlanta to play amongst the great Julio Jones as well as Matt Ryan as well as a slew of talented players, Ridley is on indicate to present the solid soil he is worth the cost of admission. Early days inward the offseason workouts guide hold seen Calvin working from both the slot as well as the exterior to gain multiple looks to endeavour as well as expose the opposition. Ridley volition guide hold to seat on some weight inward the shape of some other 10 pounds or as well as then to create total out a rather lean frame. Outside of that, instruct develop to come across this human work.  

ADF Prediction: Very high potential, potential pro bowl talent.

Round 2 – Pick 26 (58)

Isaiah Oliver (DB)

What tin give the axe nosotros state other than this draft shape for the defensive backs was inward fact 1 of the deepest we’ve seen inward years. Adding yet some other gleaming review, ADF is a big fan of Isaiah Oliver as well as the talent he brings to the table. Oliver enjoys great size as well as speed to tally great strength equally he merely looks the utilization of an NFL cover-corner. While Oliver wasn’t much of a ball hawk, his arts and crafts was built to a greater extent than or less locking downwards the receiver as well as making audio plays on the ball. Oliver recorded exclusively iii interceptions inward his fourth dimension at Colorado but was able to garner a squeamish 25 overstep breakups 12 coming inward his terminal year.

While reviewing his tape, Oliver does guide hold some weaknesses that demand to hold out ironed out earlier coach Quinn volition trust him on a regular basis. At times he focuses on the receiver also much allowing his natural powerfulness to overtake audio logical play, inward that example his awareness needs some work. His coverage powerfulness is a picayune raw at times but ADF is really confident he volition hold out coached upwards past times the many talented players on the Falcons backend similar Keanu Neal as well as Desmond Trufant. He should uncovering a role early the Atlanta defence forcefulness inward a starting capacity. 

ADF Prediction: High potential, time to come starter as well as lock downwards corner.

Round iii – Pick 26 (90)

Deadrin Senat (DT)

This pick was a clear demand create total trying to add together adequate depth to a roster that saw Dontari Poe wing the coup (pun intended), leaving the Falcons 1 time once to a greater extent than desperately sparse on the defensive front. If this squad has whatever glaring weak spot, its clear it resides on the line. Deadrin Senat is an interesting histrion that lacks elevation but makes upwards for it inward weight coming inward at 6’0” tall as well as asset 315 pounds. While his elevation may facial expression similar a limitation, Senat makes upwards for it amongst great strength as well as enterprise football game savvy that should allow him to carve out a role early. On some other squad he powerfulness guide hold struggled to earn playing time, but Atlanta is the perfect house to instruct his feet wet. ADF expects to come across a lot of him inward his start flavor inward the NFL.

ADF Prediction: Moderate/low upside, rotational player.  

Round 4 – Pick 26 (126)

Ito Smith (RB)

ADF all the same can’t sympathize how the NFL combine gave this human a snub, equally Ito Smith volition examine he tin give the axe supply a much-needed alter of stride to an NFL backfield. Smith does present great vision as well as fantastic elusiveness teamed amongst patience as well as skillful strength lowering his shoulder upon start contact. Ito did run a squeamish xl fourth dimension at his pro-day clocking a sub 4.5 fourth dimension spell asset a frame over 200 pounds. His elevation does locomote out something to hold out desired but shouldn’t hold out a hinderance on him what as well as then ever.

Smith was a great producer inward his fourth dimension at Southern Mississippi keen 1400 rushing yards twice inward his in conclusion 2 seasons. During his career Smith was a truthful workhorse amassing a whopping 820 carries for 4538 yards as well as 42 touchdowns spell keeping his average yards per deport good to a higher house v yards per carry. There’s no mistaking why the Falcons chose to Draft Ito equally he could easily create total the void side past times side flavor which should hold out left when Tevin Coleman finds his agency to the opened upwards marketplace to cash inward on gratis agent dollars. Drafting Smith inward the 4th circular could watch equally a pocket possessing fantastic value.    

ADF Prediction: Great upside, volition produce.

Round 6 – Pick twenty (194)

Russell Gage (WR)

Depth was the vision hither when choosing one-time LSU production Russell Gage inward the 6th circular of the draft. Having admirable size but a less the stellar frame should maintain Gage working difficult to uncovering a role on this team. Gage is a seat together athlete that has flora a niche inward particular teams equally a gunner finding ways to select downwards returners. His role should hold out clear from 24-hour interval 1 amongst the potential to present his powerfulness inward the overstep game. While nosotros aren’t asset our breath for whatever type of offensive production this season, who’s to state it can’t give inward the future.  

Round 6 – Pick 26 (200)

Foye Oluokun (LB)

Coach Quinn is really clear that having players amongst immense athletic powerfulness trumps that over anything else equally his belief inward talent that can’t hold out coached is priority let on one. Adding to a enterprise grouping of business backers, Oluokun is a versatile histrion that tin give the axe hold out placed inward multiple looks confusing the criminal offence spell non beingness out of position. While Foye does guide hold limitations amongst his awareness as well as tends to over peruse, ADF has no dubiousness Quinn volition coach that flaw out of his game placing some other speedy weapon on his vastly improving defense.      

2018 Undrafted Free Agent Signings

Chris Lammons, DB, South Carolina

Luke McNitt, FB, Nebraska

Joseph Putu, DB, Florida

Anthony Winbush, DE, Ball State

David Marvin, K, Georgia

Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, DE, UCLA

Emmanuel Ellerbe, LB, Rice

Malik Williams, RB, Louisville

Jake Roh, TE, Boise State

Kurt Benkert, QB, Virginia 

Daniel Marx, FB, Stanford

Dontez Byrd, WR, Tennessee Tech

Emmanuel Smith, LB, Vanderbilt

Matt Gono, OL, Wesley College

Demario Richard, RB, Arizona State

Justin Crawford, RB, West Virginia

Salesi Uhatafe, OL, Utah

J.C. Hassenauer, C, Alabama

Troy Mangen, TE, Ohio

Christian Blake, WR, Northern Illinois

Detrich Clark, WR, Colorado State

Devin Gray, WR, Cincinnati

Lamar Jordan, New Mexico

Jon Cunningham, DT, Kent State

MacKendy Cheridor, DE, Georgia State

Richard Jarvis, LB, Brown

Secdrick Cooper, DB, Louisiana Tech