Arkridge Mock Off Season 3.0 (Trade Down)

[Arkridge]

Hey guys. New mock from me. For my other 2 2016 mocks I had a strong emphasis on defense, but for this one I decided to help our boy Matt Ryan out. Looking at our roster we have absolutely no fire power in the passing game outside of Julio Jones anymore, especially with Roddy White on the decline and Jacob Tamme not being as big of a passing threat as many of us thought he would. I think we can sign some strong defensive free agents in the front 7 and we should jump on some guys Matt Ryan can throw the ball to for big play ability. We all saw towards the middle of the season how easily our offense was nullified once teams realized taking Julio out of the equation took away almost all possibility of a big play. So lets GET SOME MORE FIREPOWER!:

 

Keep:

O’Brien Schofield

Adrian Clayborn

Ricardo Allen

Paul Soliai

Phillip Wheeler

Nate Stupar

Jonathan Babineaux

Paul Worrillow

Jake Long

Shane Graham

Ryan Schraeder

Brooks Reed

Chris Chester

Andy Levitre

 

Let Go:

Kroy Beirmann

Justin Durant

Roddy White

William Moore

Devin Hester

Matt Bryant

Tony Moaeki

Philip Adams

Charles Godfrey

Tyson Jackson

Bryce Harris

Gino Gradkowski

James Stone

 

Free Agency:

Bruce Irvin, OLB

Tahir Whitehead, ILB

Rodney Mcleod, SS

Rishard Matthews, WR

Jeff Allen, OG

Ben Jones, OC

 

Draft:

 **Trade!!** The Bengals move up to pick #17 and draft Laquon Treadwell to play opposite AJ Green. In return for pick #17, we receive their first round pick (#24) as well as their 2016 second round pick (#55). With the 24th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons take a chance on a talented EDGE prospect with a troubled past:

 

Round 1 (24): Noah Spence, DE/OLB Eastern Kentucky (6’3 254)

Fact of the matter is, we’re still last in the league in sacks and our defense getting more constant pressure on the QB will make it easier on everyone else on the defense. Noah Spence is an incredibly balanced and fluid athlete. He’s got great bend around the edge to go along with a great initial burst off of the line of scrimmage. A versatile edge rusher able to play either side standing or hand in the dirt. Spence has the potential of a top 10 draft pick but due to multiple failed drug tests leading to his ban from the Big Ten, I think he’ll slide to the back end of the first round.

 

Round 2 (50): Hunter Henry, TE Arkansas (6’5 255lbs.)

It’s consensus that our defense needs work but it still stands that Matt Ryan has absolutely no weapons outside of Julio Jones anymore. Matt Ryan plays his best football when he has a security blanket tight end to fall back on a-la Tony G. I believe Hunter Henry can be just that. The most complete tight end in the class, he’s a big target with fluid body movement and naturally soft hands. He’s an incredible athlete for his size as wellsurprising elusive in open field and happens to be a great blocker who takes not a single play off.

 

Round 2 (55): Braxton Miller, WR Ohio State (6’1 205lbs.)

Braxton Miller is hands down one of the most athletic players in the NFL draft. Making the transition to WR from QB this season he played well despite Ohio State’s QB issues throughout the season. He’s got straight-line burner speed but where he really shines is with change of direction and tracking the ball. He made himself a considerable amount of money after a stellar week of Senior Bowl practice. With the likelihood that Roddy White is out the door and the Leonard Hankerson project being a failed experiment, it’s time to start the hunt for a #2 receiver to play opposite Julio. Braxton has the potential to evolve into just that.

 

Round 3 (81): Jordan Jenkins, OLB Georgia (6’3 257lbs.)

Jordan Jenkins is one of the most versatile OLB’s in this draft and has the character traits to make him an eventual captain on an Atlanta Falcon’s defense that lacks any true leaders. Jenkins has experience playing all over the front 7 lining up with his hand in the dirt or standing up rushing the passer, he’s also shown the ability to drop back in the coverage to make plays in the passing game. Where Jenkins truly shines though is at the point of attack. He is incredibly strong at the point of attack and is great at using his hands to rip into defenders. I’m confident he can play at any of our 3 linebacker spots.

 

Round 4 (112): Miles Killebrew, SS Southern Utah (6’2 225lbs.)

Miles Killebrew is very raw but embodies what Dan Quinn looks for in a strong safety. Killebrew looks the part sporting a long, muscular, and tapered build. He’s a strider, able to get across the field incredibly quickly and accelerating to the point of contact making for a violent play style. The kid has been an absolute tackling machine as a 4 year starter for his school and is a strong presence at the line of scrimmage and fits the bill as that physical run defender we need in a SS for the scheme. I don’t know if he’s ready to start year 1 but he has all the physical ability to get there very soon.

 

Round 7 (208): Mike Matthews, OC Texas A&M (6’2 295lbs.)

Mike Matthews has become the most common 7th rounder featured in Falcons mocks and for good reason. He's a late round prospect that can potentially address a position of need a few years down the line, he comes from a pedigree of great football players and he isn't a guy we have to worry about as far as character or work ethic goes. Texas A&M teammates describe Mike as being a more outspoken and passionate player than his older brother Jake, and although a late round prospect I still regard him as a top 5 player at the position. High upside guy with incredibly low risk, more OL depth is always necessary.

 

Depth Chart:

 

QB: Matt Ryan, Sean Renfree

RB: DeVonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman

FB: Patrick DiMarco

WR: Julio Jones, Justin Hardy

WR: Rishard Matthews, Braxton Miller, Nick Williams

TE: Hunter Henry, Jacob Tamme, Levine Toilolo

LT: Jake Matthews, Jake Long

LG: Jeff Allen, Chris Chester

OC: Ben Jones, Mike Matthews

RT: Ryan Schraeder, Jake Long

RG: Andy Levitre, Chris Chester

 **********************************

DE: Vic Beasley, Adrian Clayborn,

DT: Rashede Hageman, Grady Jarrett

DT: Jonathan Babineux, Paul Soliai

DE: Noah Spence, Bruce Irvin (Swing)

WLB: Brooks Reed, Jordan Jenkins, Philip Wheeler

MLB: Tahir Whitehead, Paul Worrillow, Nate Stupar

SLB: Bruce Irvin, Brooks Reed,

CB: Desmond Trufant, Akeem King

CB: Robert Alford, Jalen Collins

SS: Rodney Mcleod, Kemal Ishmael, Miles Killebrew

FS: Ricardo Allen, Robinson Therezie

 

Thanks for having a look guys and please let me know what you think!

Edited February 10, 2016 by Arkridge

[kiwifalcon]

I like the draft you pretty much covered everything here.

[etherdome]

In principal, I like this.  But, do you really think that Hunter will fall into our laps in the second round?  I don't.   But, hey, here's hoping that you are right! 

Hardy is our #2 WR.  Braxton Miller is an exciting athlete, but it will take three seasons for him to realize his potential.  I don't want to wait that long for a second rounder to make a difference.  Instead, let's grab another defender......let's take DT, Vernon Butler. 

 

[Arkridge]

5 minutes ago, etherdome said:

In principal, I like this.  But, do you really think that Hunter will fall into our laps in the second round?  I don't.   But, hey, here's hoping that you are right! 

Hardy is our #2 WR.  Braxton Miller is an exciting athlete, but it will take three seasons for him to realize his potential.  I don't want to wait that long for a second rounder to make a difference.  Instead, let's grab another defender......let's take DT, Vernon Butler. 

 

I think there's a strong possibility for it. I loved Maxx Williams as a prospect (A bit more than Henry) and he went mid second. I guess there's a possibility he goes deep back end of the first but I see him, along with most other TEs, to be a day 2 guy. He's an incredibly fluid athlete and more athletic than he looks but I don't think the combine is going to help him much.

And can you really call Hardy our #2 receiver when he didn't even start playing til halfway thru the season and didn't catch any touchdowns (only 21rec). That is yet to be determined.

Edited February 10, 2016 by Arkridge

[kiwifalcon]

4 minutes ago, etherdome said:

In principal, I like this.  But, do you really think that Hunter will fall into our laps in the second round?  I don't.   But, hey, here's hoping that you are right! 

Hardy is our #2 WR.  Braxton Miller is an exciting athlete, but it will take three seasons for him to realize his potential.  I don't want to wait that long for a second rounder to make a difference.  Instead, let's grab another defender......let's take DT, Vernon Butler. 

 

Gronk went at 50 odd just sayin.

[Arkridge]

4 minutes ago, kiwifalcon said:

Gronk went at 50 odd just sayin.

My point exactly. TE's have to be super athletes if they wanna get first round consideration. Hunter Henry is incredibly efficient. He doesn't drop the ball like, ever. But I don't see any super dynamic traits that could land him in the first round.

[Francis York Morgan]

As a dream draft, this is fine. Ish. Kinda didn't cover areas I'd have liked you to at all, and I think people would still think our LBs and DTs were terrible, but I digress. 

But...and I usually hesitate to go all "this couldn't happen"...I think Spence is a top 10 pick, Henry is a 1st round lock, and Miller could even slip into the 1st. Again, as a dream draft, great, but it reminds me of people mocking Ezekial Ansah to us in the 20s years ago. 

[Arkridge]

7 minutes ago, Falcan Moore said:

As a dream draft, this is fine. Ish. Kinda didn't cover areas I'd have liked you to at all, and I think people would still think our LBs and DTs were terrible, but I digress. 

But...and I usually hesitate to go all "this couldn't happen"...I think Spence is a top 10 pick, Henry is a 1st round lock, and Miller could even slip into the 1st. Again, as a dream draft, great, but it reminds me of people mocking Ezekial Ansah to us in the 20s years ago. 

I could see Spence being placed higher but it depends on a lot. He boosted his draft heavily thanks to the Senior Bowl but before that most people had him mocked in the second or at most very late first. You may be underestimating the fact that he was KICKED OUT of Ohio State. That's a very serious matter. He's going to have to prove that he's a changed man. From everything I've heard, he tanked his senior bowl interviews with coaches, but it seems his play overshadowed that. If you look at most mocks out right now the majority still place him in the late 1st, so it isn't a stretch in the slightest. What exactly makes you think Hunter Henry is a first round prospect? What jumps out to you other than his size? Most of the great TEs in the league were picked in later rounds, even Gronk went mid second. TE just isn't a position that a lot of teams are going to spend a first round pick on. Henry is a good athlete but after the combine I don't think people will be calling him a first round guy. 

As for Braxton Miller, he's another guy who's been boosting his draft stock recently but I don't think he'll get picked over Doctson, Coleman, Thomas and maybe not even Boyd or Fuller. There are quite a few more "complete" receivers ahead of him. He's a dynamite athlete but I don't see any way he breaks first round right now. I see him as a mid second rounder. 

Edited February 10, 2016 by Arkridge

[FAN_O_THE_ATL]

I like it a lot. My only concern is that Beasley, Irvin, Spence, and Jenkins have a lot of the same qualities. I love pairing Irvin & Beasley together and Jenkins is a good value and perfect to groom as SLB under Irvin. As much as I think Spence could be a stud on the field I would prefer a bigger DE like Lawson or Ogbah or a DT to push the pocket from this deep DT class. 

[Sponge]

I like this mock. Good job.

[Arkridge]

7 minutes ago, FAN_O_THE_ATL said:

I like it a lot. My only concern is that Beasley, Irvin, Spence, and Jenkins have a lot of the same qualities. I love pairing Irvin & Beasley together and Jenkins is a good value and perfect to groom as SLB under Irvin. As much as I think Spence could be a stud on the field I would prefer a bigger DE like Lawson or Ogbah or a DT to push the pocket from this deep DT class. 

Yeah man, I hear you. My two other considerations for the first pick were Lawson or Billings. For my next one I'll probably go in that direction just to give us that pocket pushing guy we need. I just think Spence is a good pick due to the fact that I don't see how he goes in the top 15-20 with the character concerns.

6 minutes ago, SpongeDad said:

I like this mock. Good job.

Thank you!

[djbrough]

There will be better options than Braxton Miller in the second. Also, we would not have a starting caliber WLB on the roster. Everyone drafted is a SLB or fringe DE. I like the trade down & Spence pick, but I believe that there would be better options for us at the other spots.

[Leggggggo]

Two comments about Noah Spence. 1) Do you really think he will be there at 24? He might be there at 17, but with the teams that are stacked above us in the draft some of them, based on past picks, seem to not really care about off field issues and will take the chance for the potential upside. 2) Let's assume he does drop to 17/24, do you think he will pass the Falcons filter? I personally don't. And I'm personally ok with that.

I could see Noah going as high as #7 to the 49ers (i mean look at their franchise, they will do anything for any reason they see fit), #8 Dolphins, and less likely at #11 to the Bears.

[DMT11]

Love the trade back - there will be plenty of good defenders at 24 that we could use either PR 4-3 fast linebackers etc. Or even Cravens hybrid safety LB .  

[Arkridge]

2 hours ago, Leggggggo said:

Two comments about Noah Spence. 1) Do you really think he will be there at 24? He might be there at 17, but with the teams that are stacked above us in the draft some of them, based on past picks, seem to not really care about off field issues and will take the chance for the potential upside. 2) Let's assume he does drop to 17/24, do you think he will pass the Falcons filter? I personally don't. And I'm personally ok with that.

I could see Noah going as high as #7 to the 49ers (i mean look at their franchise, they will do anything for any reason they see fit), #8 Dolphins, and less likely at #11 to the Bears.

I think there is a good possibility he's there. It depends on how each team views him. Right now I see him as a late first round guy  (I had him in the 2nd before the senior bowl). His draft spot varies heavily throughout mocks I've seen him in the top 10, back end of the first and sometimes even top of the second. Given the circumstances of his off the field issues I think back end of the first is a good spot for him right now but a good combine could easily change that. One thing that may work against him is interviews. From what I've heard he absolutely tanked senior bowl interviews. He needs to work on that come combine time because it WILL hurt his stock. 

As far as the Falcons filter goes, no idea my man. I'd like to think that with a new staff, scouting director, etc that that filter would be changed just a bit but the filter might have more to do with Blank than some realize. I'm hopeful that we could look past some of these things when it comes to talented players like Spence. 

[Leggggggo]

8 minutes ago, Arkridge said:

I think there is a good possibility he's there. It depends on how each team views him. Right now I see him as a late first round guy  (I had him in the 2nd before the senior bowl). His draft spot varies heavily throughout mocks I've seen him in the top 10, back end of the first and sometimes even top of the second. Given the circumstances of his off the field issues I think back end of the first is a good spot for him right now but a good combine could easily change that. One thing that may work against him is interviews. From what I've heard he absolutely tanked senior bowl interviews. He needs to work on that come combine time because it WILL hurt his stock. 

As far as the Falcons filter goes, no idea my man. I'd like to think that with a new staff, scouting director, etc that that filter would be changed just a bit but the filter might have more to do with Blank than some realize. I'm hopeful that we could look past some of these things when it comes to talented players like Spence. 

Fair on all points. And for the filter, I'm mostly with you, I think we do lose out on some talent because of it and I have no doubt it is a Blank image thing and not coaching. However, it does keep us away from some situations like the Browns are in having to spend another 1st round on a QB after only, 3 years?, since they did it last time. Hopefully find that happy middle ground.

[Lornoth]

The Bengals already have Green and the TE with the most receiving TD's in the NFL. I'm not sure why you think they'd want to give all that up for another receiver.

[Arkridge]

14 minutes ago, Lornoth said:

The Bengals already have Green and the TE with the most receiving TD's in the NFL. I'm not sure why you think they'd want to give all that up for another receiver.

There's a strong possibility they lose Sanu and Jones both leave in free agency. It's entirely within the realm of possibility that they look for a #2 receiver.

[Lornoth]

1 minute ago, Arkridge said:

There's a strong possibility they lose Sanu and Jones both leave in free agency. It's entirely within the realm of possibility that they look for a #2 receiver.

How many teams use a 1'st and 2'nd round pick on a #2 WR?

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

A trade from 17 to the mid-20s is unlikely to bring back a 2nd in the same draft. That sort of trade hasnt happened since 2002. Typically, you'll see a return of  a pick in the 85-95 overall range. 

But if Spence is on the board and we can draft him in the mid 20s plus gain a 3rd, we'd be doing good work. 

[Arkridge]

6 minutes ago, Lornoth said:

How many teams use a 1'st and 2'nd round pick on a #2 WR?

Maybe the 2016 Bengals, my man! Lol. It matters not which team we trade down with that's neither here nor there. I wanted to do a trade down and found one that  (in my opinion) made sense. Maybe you don't agree. Putting the trade in itself aside, what do you think of the draft picks?

[Lornoth]

1 minute ago, Arkridge said:

Maybe the 2016 Bengals, my man! Lol. It matters not which team we trade down with that's neither here nor there. I wanted to do a trade down and found one that  (in my opinion) made sense. Maybe you don't agree. Putting the trade in itself aside, what do you think of the draft picks?

A bit idealistic, but hey if we can pull it off i'd be ecstatic. I really want a good standup LB'er in the first couple rounds, but if we pulled this off I'd be okay delaying that need for another year. Really my only complaint with the draft would be that I'm not a huge Miller fan, but that's small.

[Robb4242]

13 hours ago, Arkridge said:

I could see Spence being placed higher but it depends on a lot. He boosted his draft heavily thanks to the Senior Bowl but before that most people had him mocked in the second or at most very late first. You may be underestimating the fact that he was KICKED OUT of Ohio State. That's a very serious matter. He's going to have to prove that he's a changed man. From everything I've heard, he tanked his senior bowl interviews with coaches, but it seems his play overshadowed that. If you look at most mocks out right now the majority still place him in the late 1st, so it isn't a stretch in the slightest. What exactly makes you think Hunter Henry is a first round prospect? What jumps out to you other than his size? Most of the great TEs in the league were picked in later rounds, even Gronk went mid second. TE just isn't a position that a lot of teams are going to spend a first round pick on. Henry is a good athlete but after the combine I don't think people will be calling him a first round guy. 

As for Braxton Miller, he's another guy who's been boosting his draft stock recently but I don't think he'll get picked over Doctson, Coleman, Thomas and maybe not even Boyd or Fuller. There are quite a few more "complete" receivers ahead of him. He's a dynamite athlete but I don't see any way he breaks first round right now. I see him as a mid second rounder. 

IF he tanked his interviews as some have reported, it makes sense that his play on the field would overshadow that in the world of mock drafts.  All of these mocks, CBS/Kiper/McShay/Mayock, and others really only go off of play, potential, combine/workout numbers.  They don't really know how these interviews go so they don't get factored in as strongly as teams factor them.  That's why it's a "shock" to everyone when a guy drops a round or two, or someone is picked 10 picks "too high".  There is just so much more going on that 99.9% of the population doesn't, and won't ever, know about that will have major influences on where players are drafted.  If Spence is able to convince someone that he's able to keep his nose clean, then his talent will probably put him in the top 10-15, if he can't convince anyone of that, he'll be lucky to be drafted on day 3.  Just really hard to mock this guy because there is so much going on with him behind the scenes. 

 

For the rest of the mock though, I like it.  I do think Hunter will go in the mid-2nd.  It's probably a tad early for Miller there, but if you're bringing him on as being a project, then it's not bad idea to go get him.  I think he will catch on quickly, he's a smart guy (3.3 GPA and early graduation from Ohio St.).  So I don't think learning the playbook/routes will be a problem for him and his athletic ability will get him on the field quickly, but still 2 years before he reaches full potential.  The last 3 picks are solid and you filled some of our most pressing holes through FA (OL/LB).

 

Definitely an offseason I could live with.  Assuming the trade down, and if Spence is off the boards (either already picked or undraftable), I kinda like Emmanuel Ogbah at that spot.

[Arkridge]

2 hours ago, Robb4242 said:

IF he tanked his interviews as some have reported, it makes sense that his play on the field would overshadow that in the world of mock drafts.  All of these mocks, CBS/Kiper/McShay/Mayock, and others really only go off of play, potential, combine/workout numbers.  They don't really know how these interviews go so they don't get factored in as strongly as teams factor them.  That's why it's a "shock" to everyone when a guy drops a round or two, or someone is picked 10 picks "too high".  There is just so much more going on that 99.9% of the population doesn't, and won't ever, know about that will have major influences on where players are drafted.  If Spence is able to convince someone that he's able to keep his nose clean, then his talent will probably put him in the top 10-15, if he can't convince anyone of that, he'll be lucky to be drafted on day 3.  Just really hard to mock this guy because there is so much going on with him behind the scenes. 

 

For the rest of the mock though, I like it.  I do think Hunter will go in the mid-2nd.  It's probably a tad early for Miller there, but if you're bringing him on as being a project, then it's not bad idea to go get him.  I think he will catch on quickly, he's a smart guy (3.3 GPA and early graduation from Ohio St.).  So I don't think learning the playbook/routes will be a problem for him and his athletic ability will get him on the field quickly, but still 2 years before he reaches full potential.  The last 3 picks are solid and you filled some of our most pressing holes through FA (OL/LB).

 

Definitely an offseason I could live with.  Assuming the trade down, and if Spence is off the boards (either already picked or undraftable), I kinda like Emmanuel Ogbah at that spot.

Yeah man, I agree. So many factors that go into drafting a guy and when it comes to someone like Spence it's really hard to pinpoint where exactly he is going to go which is why is varies so heavily from mock to mock I've seen him go as early as pick 7 and as late as the back end of the 2nd round. It's too hard to tell right now and I think people who are calling him a top 15 lock aren't looking at all the areas, aren't checking off every box you know? The behind the scenes stuff, interviews, etc is going to make or break this guys draft position. I think the back end first is a good spot right now but the combine hasn't come yet. Alot changes around combine time. 

I think middle of the second is good for Miller but I may be jumping the gun a bit. He's just such a dynamic athlete and has a real mind for the game, I think he can catch on really quick. I like him as our #2 guy maybe 2 years down the road once he gets a better grasp of how to play the position. Being a former QB I think he'll be cerebral enough to pick up on the playbook fast, I think he'll get on the field a lot faster than Hardy did. One thing that keeps coming up for me is lack of a "big" defensive end. Spence is more like a Beasley and maybe it would benefit us to have someone with some more size to be a stop gap kind of guy. For that I like Lawson, Ogbah or Billings on the inside. One of them is bound to be there if we trade back.