FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Today's Early Bird Report includes the Falcons' draft needs coming into greater focus as well as the list of prospects who will attend this year's draft.
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FALCONS HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
*AJC: *Falcons' draft needs have come sharply into focus
Since head coach Dan Quinn and general manager joined forces in 2015, it hasn't been hard to determine which areas of their roster they may target in the NFL Draft. Atlanta has built its roster through the draft, and it only has a few known needs as the 2018 NFL Draft approaches.
With the moves the Falcons have made in free agency, *The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's *D. Orlando Ledbetter believes the team's draft needs have come into focus. At this point, the Falcons are likely looking to add a defensive tackle, wide receiver and linebacker in the draft, as well as build depth across their roster.
Defensive tackle is a position that includes several intriguing prospects in this year's draft, and Quinn explained as much during the NFL's head coaches breakfast at last week's league meetings.
"I think it's a deep group," Quinn said. "There's a lot of big guys that can really move. Having that kind of versatility where a guy can penetrate, get up field. Those are things that I really look for at that position. So when I kept going down the list, there's a number of guys that [I said], 'OK, this guy looks like he has the traits [that make him] ready to help right now.' Not saying he won't develop, but the skill set is there to say, 'In our system, this is how we'd see him play.' There was a number of guys that fit that bill."
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BIGGEST NEWS FROM AROUND THE NFL
NFL.com: Lamar Jackson among 22 prospects attending 2018 NFL Draft
The full list of prospects who will attend the NFL Draft was revealed Thursday, and its full of notable players. Among those who will be headed for AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for the draft are former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and other quarterback prospects like Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen.
Outside of the quarterbacks, there are plenty of exciting players who will be in attendance: Running backs Saquon Barkley and Derrius Guice, defensive ends Bradley Chubb and Marcus Davenport, linebackers Roquan Smith and Shaquem Griffin and defensive tackles Taven Bryan and Vita Vea.
Here is the full list of prospects who will attend the upcoming draft:
Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State
Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Shaquem Griffin, LB, Central Florida
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Derwin James, S, Florida State
Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Connor Williams, OT, Texas
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