Theprof's First Mock Draft Of The Season

[theProf]

The Falcons have expressed a direct interest in all of the following listed players in the first six rounds below:

1. Pass Rusher: Shane Ray (alternative: Bud Dupree, assuming Fowler and Beasley are already taken)

Falcons desperately need someone who can get after the QB, which has been missing since John Abraham in his prime. The tape doesn't lie: Shane Ray can definitely get after the QB and will significantly improve the pass rush.

2. Free Safety: Damarious Randall (alternative: Eric Rowe)

Quinn covets a Free Safety who can cover a lot of field and who is a sure tackler. Randall is moving up the draftboards rapidly, Mayock nows rates him as the #1 Safety in the draft. I think Southward then gets moved to CB.

3. Left Guard: Ali Marpet (alternative: Tre Jackson)

Now that the missing pieces for the defense has been shored-up, it's time to turn the attention to the Offense. Atlanta gets its starting left guard to replace Blalock for years to come.

4. Running Back: David Cobb (alternative: Mike Davis)

Atlanta gets a great complimentary power RB to help share the rushing load with Freeman. Hopefully, Atlanta can now kiss its short-yardage and goal-line rushing woes goodbye.

5. Wide Receiver: Mario Alford (alternatives: Ty Montgomery or Darren Waller)

Atlanta gets a very speedy wide-out who can really stretch the field, but can also catch contested balls. Atlanta might be able to go ahead and move Roddy into the slot, and use Alford at wideout. He's also a good kick-off returner to boot.

6. Cornerback: Nick Marshall (alternative: Tray Walker)

Need a little more developmental depth at CB. Converted QB, Nick Marshall has the necessary athletic traits to develop into a good pro CB with time.

7a. Nose Tackle: Ellis McCarthy (alternative: Deon Simon)

Need a back-up for Soliai at the nose. McCarthy has rare size at 338 pounds. From his scouting report: "has thick lower body and is rarely manhandled by a single block. Has natural strength to leverage his gap and take on double team blocks. Improved hand usage from 2013 to 2014. Flashes ability to collapse pocket as bull rusher."

7b. Fullback: Aaron Ripkowski (alternative: Mark Weisman)

I think DeMarco needs some competition at FB. I believe that Atlanta's rushing attack could significantly improve with a road-grinding, powerful blocking FB, in a similar vein to Ovie Mughelli in his prime. From his scouting report: "Outstanding size. Knows he is in to be a hammerhead for Sooners' rushing attack and takes great pride in that. Carries good speed and knee bend to his target. Drops low and explodes into linebackers with his outside shoulder, issuing a jarring, powerful pop. Looks for additional work after making first contact."

Additional notes: I didn't address ILB, TE, or Offensive Tackle in this mock. I think Worrilow needs another year to prove himself with the addition of better OLB help surrounding him. Schraeder may or may not be the answer at RT, but also deserves another year to prove himself. Atlanta addressed the TE position, at least for the 2015 season, with the addition of Tamme and Moeaki.

[PapaJoe]

Lots of good there Prof.

not bad at all.

[The O.D.B]

Based on some of your other posts I've read I'm betting this is probably the most heavily researched Mock the board has seen this year.

I like it for the most part. good job.

[theProf]

Based on some of your other posts I've read I'm betting this is probably the most heavily researched Mock the board has seen this year.

I like it for the most part. good job.

Thanks for the compliment, but there are plenty of posters on these boards that research the draft much more than I do. I use a lot of these knowledgeable people to help develop my thoughts on what direction and which players the Falcons might pursue in the draft.

[Kayoh]

I'd absolutely love it if this would happen. I'd prefer Dupree or Gregory over Ray at 8, but the rest is good.

A few things worth mentioning.

1. Randall is likely this year's Calvin Pryor. First rounder that nobody was talking about a month ago.

2. Rowe is also very likely to be taken before we pick. That's not as much of a guarantee as Randall, but if NFL teams are seriously taking guys like Kevin Johnson and Trae Waynes over Eric Rowe, they're making huge mistakes.

3. Ty Montgomery is most likely going to be a RB in the NFL. He's not a good WR at all, but with the ball in his hands he's very dangerous, plus he has the frame of modern NFL RBs. There's been a lot of talk of teams looking at him as a RB, and he'd be great at that spot because he'd get to use his ability with the ball in his hands, plus we already know he'd have natural hands out of the backfield.

4. As much as I like Ellis McCarthy, I don't necessarily think we need a true 3-4 NT type guy like him. I'd prefer Derrick Lott, who's a freak of nature and similar in size to Brandon Mebane, who played NT for Seattle under Quinn.

5. If we're taking a CB in the 6th, I'd rather get a guy like Darryl Roberts, who was amazing at Marshall and has excellent physical & athletic upside. Check him out if you haven't seen him yet.

[theProf]

I'd absolutely love it if this would happen. I'd prefer Dupree or Gregory over Ray at 8, but the rest is good.

A few things worth mentioning.

1. Randall is likely this year's Calvin Pryor. First rounder that nobody was talking about a month ago.

2. Rowe is also very likely to be taken before we pick. That's not as much of a guarantee as Randall, but if NFL teams are seriously taking guys like Kevin Johnson and Trae Waynes over Eric Rowe, they're making huge mistakes.

3. Ty Montgomery is most likely going to be a RB in the NFL. He's not a good WR at all, but with the ball in his hands he's very dangerous, plus he has the frame of modern NFL RBs. There's been a lot of talk of teams looking at him as a RB, and he'd be great at that spot because he'd get to use his ability with the ball in his hands, plus we already know he'd have natural hands out of the backfield.

4. As much as I like Ellis McCarthy, I don't necessarily think we need a true 3-4 NT type guy like him. I'd prefer Derrick Lott, who's a freak of nature and similar in size to Brandon Mebane, who played NT for Seattle under Quinn.

5. If we're taking a CB in the 6th, I'd rather get a guy like Darryl Roberts, who was amazing at Marshall and has excellent physical & athletic upside. Check him out if you haven't seen him yet.

Thanks for the heads-up on CB Darryl Roberts. From what little info I can find on him, he certainly appears to be quite an athlete. Derrick Lott will probably be drafted in either the 5th or 6th round, and would in all likelihood not be available in the 7th.

[Kayoh]

Thanks for the heads-up on CB Darryl Roberts. From what little info I can find on him, he certainly appears to be quite an athlete. Derrick Lott will probably be drafted in either the 5th or 6th round, and would in all likelihood not be available in the 7th.

My mistake, when I was typing that reply I had it in my head that you mocked McCarthy to us in the 5th.

[rugger8]

My mistake, when I was typing that reply I had it in my head that you mocked McCarthy to us in the 5th.

I'd want to see McCarthy lose about 20lbs, but he'd still have the desired size. I think he'd be more durable and mobile a bit lighter.

[Dirtybird#11]

I like it!

[Vandy]

One of the better more realistic mocks I've seen. Nice job.