NFL.com analyst Mike Mayock has updated his positional draft rankings, which can be found below:
Quarterback
- Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
- Jared Goff, California
- Paxton Lynch, Memphis
- Connor Cook, Michigan State
- Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
Running back
- Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
- Derrick Henry, Alabama
- Devontae Booker, Utah
- Kenneth Dixon, Louisiana Tech
- Kenyan Drake, Alabama
Rise: Drake (NR)
*Fall: C.J. Prosise, Notre Dame (5) *
Wide receiver
- Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
- Josh Doctson, TCU
- Corey Coleman, Baylor
- Will Fuller, Notre Dame
T-5. Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
T-5. Michael Thomas, Ohio State
Rise: Doctson (3)
*Fall: Coleman (2) *
Tight end
- Hunter Henry, Arkansas
- Austin Hooper, Stanford
- Jerrell Adams, South Carolina
- Nick Vannett, Ohio State
- Tyle Higbee, Western Kentucky
Rise: Higbee (NR)
*Fall: Ben Braunecker, Harvard (5) *
Offensive tackle
- Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
- Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
- Jack Conklin, Michigan State
- Taylor Decker, Ohio State
T-5. Germain Ifedi, Texas A&M
T-5. Jason Spriggs, Indiana
Guard
- Cody Whitehair, Kansas State
- Joshua Garnett, Stanford
- Christian Westerman, Arizona State
- Vadal Alexander, LSU
- Connor McGovern, Missouri
Center
- Ryan Kelly, Alabama
- Nick Martin, Notre Dame
- Max Tuerk, USC
- Evan Boehm, Missouri
T-5. Graham Glasgow, Michigan
T-5. Jack Allen, Michigan State
Interior defensive line
- DeForest Buckner, Oregon
- Sheldon Rankins, Louisville
- Jarran Reed, Alabama
- A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama
T-5. Andrew Billings, Baylor
T-5. Chris Jones, Mississippi State
Rise: Billings (NR), Jones (NR)
*Fall: Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss (5) *
Edge rusher
- Joey Bosa, Ohio State
- Leonard Floyd, Georgia
- Shaq Lawson, Clemson
- Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky
T-5. Kamalei Correa, Boise State
T-5. Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
Rise: Lawson (4)
*Fall: Spence (3) *
Linebacker
- Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
- Myles Jack, UCLA
- Darron Lee, Ohio State
- Reggie Ragland, Alabama
T-5. Deion Jones, LSU
T-5. Jatavis Brown, Akron
Rise: Brown (NR)
Cornerback
- Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
- Vernon Hargreaves, Florida
- Eli Apple, Ohio State
- Artie Burns, Miami (Fla.)
- William Jackson III, Houston
Fall: Hargreaves (1), Apple (2), Burns (3), Jackson (4), Mackensie Alexander, Clemson (5)
(Note: Ramsey moves from safety)
Safeties
- Karl Joseph, West Virginia
- Vonn Bell, Ohio State
- KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame
- Keanu Neal, Florida
- Justin Simmons, Boston College
Analysis: There's been some interesting movement at positions the Falcons might target in the first round. Not surprisingly, Shaq Lawson—who could be the third Clemson product to join Atlanta in two years—has jump up Mayock's rankings after an impressive showing at his pro day. Mayock is also high on Georgia's Leonard Floyd: an athletic, versatile linebacker whom the Falcons like.
On the interior defensive line, Sheldon Rankins is an intriguing player. Pegged as Mayock's No. 2 DT, the ex-Louisville Cardinal is athletic enough and good enough in pass rushing situations to warrant a mid-first round selection. With DeForest Buckner expected to be a top 10 pick, Rankins may be the best DT available when Atlanta is on the clock.
Offensive guard Christian Westerman is another player Mayock likes. The 6-foot-3, 298-pounder is one of the strongest players in this year's draft, as evident by his 34 bench press reps at the combine—the most among O-linemen. And, according to scouting reports, he has the size and skill set for Atlanta's scheme.
It's also worth noting that Mayock has Darron Lee ranked ahead of Reggie Ragland. Their names have appeared on our mock draft monitor more than anyone else, and with a need at linebacker, there's a good chance the Falcons end up with one of them on April 28.
Keanu Neal has received attention from the Falcons, and if teams agree he's the No. 4 safety in this class, he may be on the board when Atlanta drafts in the second round. Neal's aggressive nature, coupled with his size (6-foot, 211 pounds), could make him a good fit in Dan Quinn's defense.
