Over the last four years, the Falcons have used the NFL Draft and college free agency to build a young, promising secondary that made big improvements in 2016. With Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, Jalen Collins, Brian Poole, Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal in tow, Atlanta may not invest an early pick in another defensive back this year. But considering how often they use their nickel package, Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn may way to add depth in that area.
This year's class is ripe with talented corners — many of whom hail from the same colleges that produced Atlanta's current DBs. Here's a look at Mike Mayock's top five prospects at that position, with analysis from NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
Sidney Jones, Washington
Strengths: Physical competitor. Can anticipate patterns well; has eyes and closing speed to make big plays.
Weaknesses: At 170 pounds, Jones has a thin frame. Can get impatient in coverage.
Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State
Strengths: Dubbed an "uber-athlete." Uses explosive hip flip to quickly reach top speed.
Weaknesses: Has been inconsistent when battling fast receivers. Only started for one season at OSU.
Marlon Humphrey, Alabama
Strengths: Disciplined, has fluid hips and uses speed to make up for mistakes early in the play. Experienced working in a variety of coverages.
Weaknesses: Can get impatient. While feet are fast, they are considered sloppy.
Teez Tabor, Florida
Strengths: Has prototypical frame, athletic ability and closing burst to succeed in the NFL. Hand-eye coordination is viewed as excellent.
Weaknesses: Can experience balance issues in space and undisciplined in zone coverage.
Tre'Davious White, LSU
Strengths: Experienced working on an island. A quick-twitch athlete with "exceptional" footwork.
Weaknesses: Frame is dubbed "relatively slender." Scouts are concerned about his physicality and play strength in the slot.
