The opening round of the 2015 NFL Draft is 44 days away, beginning April 30 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago. Just as each of the 32 NFL teams personnel departments may change its opinions of the pro prospects, even on draft day, some of the mock draft experts below had a change of mind of who they believe the Falcons will select with their No. 8-overall pick.
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
"No player has risen more on the draft boards of teams across the league coming out of the NFL combine. When you run 4.53 with a 1.59 split, post a vertical of 41 inches and put up a bench press total (35 reps) that's as good as the strongest nose tackles, and at a chiseled 246 pounds — well, you turn some heads. Thing is, Beasley isn't just an athletic freak because he's been a one-man production line at Clemson, with 44.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. He can flat out create disruption and get to the quarterback, and that's exactly what Atlanta needs. The pass rush is desperate for production and Beasley can help soon."
Last Week:No change
Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
"We moved Ray down our board a little bit this week, to No. 15. His below-average performance in the bench press (21 reps) and the fact that he weighed in at just 246 pounds is a little bit of a concern when you scroll through the list of the NFL's sack leaders and recognize how many of them have power as a major component of their games. I also haven't been blown away by what I've seen from Ray on tape so far. However, he was a very productive player at Missouri, and once we get a chance to do his full evaluation and see his testing results at his pro day (he wasn't able to run in Indy due to an injury), we might move him back up. And the Falcons are in serious need of pass-rushing help for new head coach Dan Quinn's defense."
Last Week: No change
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
"Gregory needs to add some weight, but he has special tools as a pass rusher. This would be a huge upgrade for the Falcons."
Last Week: No change
Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
"The Falcons desperately need pass rushers to compete in the NFC South. Ray fits the mold of the 'Leo' defenders new head coach Dan Quinn employed with the Seattle Seahawks."
Last Week: No change
Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
"The Kentucky star posted the fastest 40 time of all linebackers in the 40, clocking in with a 4.57 and banged out a 42-inch vertical with a groin injury. Dupree can get to the quarterback, and with all the big quarterbacks in the NFC South, there's never enough quality pass rushers on a roster. The Legion of Boom got all the love up in Seattle, but the secret to Dan Quinn's defensive success the past two years might have been the pass rush. Dupree's a step in the right direction for Quinn's new team."
The last thing the 2015 Scouting Combine participants were thinking about was their facial expressions, which makes them so darn funny to look at
Arkansas defensive lineman Darius Philon
Auburn defensive lineman Gabe Wright
Clemson defensive lineman Grady Jarrett
Clemson defensive lineman Tavaris Barnes
Clemson defensive lineman Vic Beasley
Delaware tight end Nick Boyle
Florida defensive lineman/linebacker Dante Fowler
Florida State defensive back PJ Williams
Florida State defensive lineman Mario Edwards
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston
Hawaii running back Joey Iosefa
Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree
Kentucky defensive lineman Za'Darius Smith
Lafayette running back Ross Scheuerman
Memphis defensive back Bobby McCain
Miami defensive lineman Anthony Chickillo
Miami (Ohio) running back Quinten Rollins
Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams
Ole Miss defensive back Cody Prewitt
Notre Dame tight end Ben Koyack
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota
Penn State offensive lineman Donovan Smith
NFL Network's Rich Eisen
San Diego State wide receiver Ezell Ruffin
Southern Miss defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Stanford offensive lineman Andrus Peat
Texas defensive lineman Malcom Brown
Towson defensive back Tye Smith
UConn wide receiver Geremy Davis
Southern Cal defensive lineman Leonard Williams
Virginia Tech defensive back Kyoshen Jarrett
Virginia defensive lineman Eli Harold
Washington defensive back Marcus Peters
Last Week: No change
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
"New Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn has to address their defensive front and in this spot there are still some nice options but it all depends on what happens in front of the Falcons. In this mock scenario Randy Gregory is the call. He's freaky athletically but needs to bulk up. Gregory was only 235 pounds at the Combine. Still, it's a great start for this new staff in Atlanta."
Last Week: No change
Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
"The Falcons have the firepower on offense to compete, but lack difference-makers on the defensive front. Ray has an explosive first step and led the SEC with 14.5 sacks in his first season as a starter. He has the raw tools for defensive-minded new head coach Dan Quinn and his staff to cultivate."
Last Week:Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
"The Falcons have been active adding front-seven defenders via free agency, but that won't stop Atlanta from targeting a "Leo" pass rusher at this pick. Gregory has immense potential and would benefit from the coaching of new head coach Dan Quinn."
**Last Week:
Shane Ray, DE, Missouri**
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
"I have a lot of ACC game tape, and every time I watch a team playing Clemson, Beasley shows up. He is undersized but he also has 70 plays behind the line of scrimmage the past two seasons."
Last Week: No change
Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
"The Falcons won't run a 3-4 under Dan Quinn as head coach, but much like the Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars, they'll want a 3-4 style pass-rusher for the edge. Cliff Avril does this in Seattle, and I'm projecting the Jaguars to draft Randy Gregory to do it in Jacksonville. For the Falcons, Shane Ray becomes that Avril/Bruce Irvin-type player. And while Quinn may want Dante Fowler—a player he recruited to Florida—Ray has the speed and toughness to fit into this defense."
Last Week: No change
Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
"At the Combine, Beasley assured himself a spot in the top 10. Anyone hoping he would slide some will be out of luck. Even though a player like Dante Fowler might be a better fit for the Falcons, Beasley can be brought in and turned into a pass rushing force as a rookie."
Last Week: Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
Leading Vote-Getters
1. Shane Ray - 4
2. Randy Gregory - 3
2. Vic Beasley - 3
3. Bud Dupree - 1
