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Tabeek's 2019 NFL Mock Draft 8.0: Falcons take best pass-blocking tackle in class

Apr 17, 2019 at 08:36 AM

Matthew Tabeek

Here we are with mock draft 8.0 and it's becoming very obvious where the Falcons are heading with that first pick. And that's why my pick has changed. Again.

Why?

Go back to what general manager Thomas Dimitroff said before free agency kicked off. Dimitroff said that whatever the Falcons do in the draft will largely depend on who they might sign in free agency – that they see free agency and the draft as one process.

OK, now look closer at those free agent signings, especially the recent ones. I won't list them all (you can read about all of the signings here), but here are seven that stick out to me:

Defensive end Adrian Clayborn
Defensive end Chris Odom
Defensive tackle Tyeler Davison
Guard/tackle John Wetzel
Guard Adam Gettis
Guard James Carpenter
Guard Jamon Brown

The Falcons' three biggest needs heading into the offseason were offensive line, defensive line and cornerback. Based on everything Atlanta has done thus far, especially considering the additions of Davison, Clayborn and Odom, it's looking more and more like the Falcons are going to address right tackle or defensive tackle with that first pick now.

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And don't forget what Falcons owner Arthur Blank said during the league meetings.

"This is my 19th year as an owner and one of the things I've learned is that Matt (Ryan) plays much better vertically than horizontally," Blank said. "I don't think we're complete in terms of the offensive line. I think it'll be an area of great scrutiny and activity during the draft."

So, without further ado, here is mock draft 8.0. Let me know how you feel about the Falcons pick here. My next one – the final one of 2019 – will drop on April 24.

1. Arizona Cardinals

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DT Quinnen Williams, Alabama	Forget the Josh Rosen rumors; they can't pass up the best prospect in this class and Williams is that. The former 'Bama star is a potential game-changer along the interior.

2. San Francisco 49ers

Table inside Article
PLAYER	TABEEK'S TAKE
DE Nick Bosa, Ohio State	They could still use more firepower coming off the edge. They take Bosa here, who is considered by many scouts and draft analysts to be the best edge rusher in this class.

3. New York Jets

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DE Josh Allen, Kentucky	The Jets go with Jersey native Josh Allen because he's the best fit. Some believe the long-and-athletic Kentucky star is the total package – he can rush, cover and also run.

4. Oakland Raiders

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DE Montez Sweat, Mississippi State	The Raiders have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball and start by adding Sweat, who posted double-digit sack totals the last two years (10.5 and 12), is tall (6-foot-5), long, athletic, has a great get-off (explosive) and gets to the QB.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
LB Devin White, LSU	White fills a major need in the middle of their defense. The former LSU star is an explosive hitter who shows great anticipation — a sideline-to-sideline defender who’ll make the whole unit better.

6. New York Giants

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma	Surprised? Don’t be. The Giants know they must find Eli Manning’s successor and pounce on the athletic and multi-dimensional Murray. Don’t overlook the fact that both coach Pat Shurmur and GM Dave Gentleman have had success in the past with mobile and athletic QBs in the past, either.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
T Jawaan Taylor, Florida	The Jags signed Nick Foles and paid him a lot of money. They’ll protect their investment with Taylor. Some think the Florida product might be the best tackle in this class.

8. Detroit Lions

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DE Rashan Gary, Michigan	The Lions go defense and take Gary, who might’ve been underutilized at Michigan, but has the versatility to play both inside and set the edge vs. the run.

9. Buffalo Bills

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DT Ed Oliver, Houston	The Bills find a replacement for recently retired Kyle Williams with Oliver, who some think will be a three-technique terror in the NFL.

10. Denver Broncos

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
G/T Jonah Williams, Alabama	The Broncos are all in on Joe Flacco. Now they need to address the offensive line and protect their veteran QB. They pounce on the 6-foot-5, 301-pound Williams, who played tackle at Alabama but could end up playing guard in the NFL.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
LB Devin Bush, Michigan	Vontaze Burfict is out of the picture and Bush is an immediate upgrade for this Bengals defense. The former Wolverines star clocked a 4.4 40 and is strong against the run and can also play on third down.

12. Green Bay Packers

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson	The Packers must improve their pass rush and select Ferrell, an explosive player with a high motor coming off the edge, and can play all three downs.

13. Miami Dolphins

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
QB Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State	The Dolphins signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, who will serve as a placeholder for Haskins. The former Buckeye star is a pocket passer who completed 70 percent of his passes and tossed 50 TDs in 2018.

14. Atlanta Falcons

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
T Andre Dillard, Washington State	The Falcons must protect Matt Ryan better, who was sacked 42 times in 2018. If they can give Matty Ice time in the pocket, he’ll pick defenses apart and the Falcons offense will be very tough to stop. That’s why taking the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Dillard is a no-brainer here. The four-year starter has excellent feet (fast and fluid) and is considered to be the best pass-blocking tackle in this draft class.

15. Washington Redskins

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
QB Drew Lock, Missouri	With Alex Smith’s future in doubt the Redskins add Lock, who has the physical tools, size and arm to succeed in the NFL. He’ll sit and learn behind Case Keenum until he’s ready.

16. Carolina Panthers

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DE Brian Burns, Florida State	Bruce Irvin is 31 and not the long-term replacement to the now-retired Julius Peppers. They add the athletic and versatile Burns, a first team All-ACC star who can line up on either side and displays a tremendous upfield burst coming off the edge.

17. New York Giants (via Cleveland)

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
T Cody Ford, Oklahoma	The Giants’ backfield is set with Barkley and a succession plan now in place with Murray. They address a huge need by adding Ford here, who has outstanding balance and agility for his 6-foot-4, 330-pound frame.

18. Minnesota Vikings

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
G Chris Lindstrom, Boston College	The Vikings address the offensive line and take the quick-footed Lindstrom, a player many scouts believe can step right in and start because of his experience.

19. Tennessee Titans

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson	The Titans need some help along the defensive line and take Wilkins, a two-time All-ACC and All-American known for his penetrating ability, quickness and change of direction.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
CB Greedy Williams, LSU	The Steelers need help in their secondary and Williams is considered the best cover corner in this class. Mike Tomlin will make sure he’s a willing tackler, too.

21. Seattle Seahawks

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
S Nasir Adderley, Delaware	The Seahawks need to bolster the back end of their secondary and opt for Adderley here, a former cornerback with fantastic instincts, range and ball skills.

22. Baltimore Ravens

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
WR D.K. Metcalf, Mississippi	Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he wants ‘rough and tough’ receivers and gets one in Metcalf. The Ole Miss star has a rare combination of size, speed, physicality, and explosiveness.

23. Houston Texans

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
T Dalton Risner, Kansas State	The Texans struggled at times to protect Deshaun Watson and hope that Risner, who is extremely physical and aggressive, will help solve that issue.

24. Oakland Raiders (via Chicago)

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
CB Byron Murphy, Washington	GM Mike Mayock knows you can’t have enough good cornerbacks and takes the former Washington star who can play both man-to-man, zone and has terrific route recognition skills.

25. Philadelphia Eagles

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
CB DeAndre Baker, Georgia	The Eagles must improve their secondary and take Baker here, who is a physical corner with solid man-to-man skills and adept at rerouting receivers.

26. Indianapolis Colts

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson	The Colts take the Clemson star who suffered an injury at the combine and didn't get to test. Some draft experts think he should be a top-half pick in this draft.

27. Oakland Raiders (via Dallas)

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech	The Raiders continue to rebuild their defense and take Ferguson, who led the nation with 17.5 sacks and finished with 64 tackles, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

28. Los Angeles Chargers

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DT Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame	The Chargers lost Darius Philon and add the 6-foot-6 Tillery here, a disruptive force along the interior during running and passing downs.

29. Kansas City Chiefs

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
RB Joshua Jacobs, Alabama	The Chiefs improve their backfield and take Jacobs here, considered to be the top running back in this class.

30. Green Bay Packers (via New Orleans)

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma	Randall Cobb is out of the picture and the Packers give Aaron Rodgers another weapon in Brown, who might just be the best deep threat in this class.

31. Los Angeles Rams

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
DT Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State	Simmons was considered a top-10 talent before tearing his ACL. With Ndamukong Suh’s future in doubt, this pick makes even more sense.

32. New England Patriots

Table inside Article
SELECTION	TABEEK'S TAKE
TE Noah Fant, Iowa	The Patriots have moved on from Rob Gronkowski and reload with Fant, a physical tight end who can do it all, especially catch and run.

And just in case you need a refresher or weren't sure, the Falcons have a total of nine draft picks at the moment.

Round 1, No. 14 overall
Round 2, No. 45 overall
Round 3, No. 79 overall
Round 4, No. 117 overall
Round 4, No. 137 overall (compensatory)
Round 5, No. 152 overall
Round 5, No. 172 overall (compensatory)
Round 6, No. 186 overall
Round 7, No. 230 overall