sports illustrated 2-round mock draft has Atlanta selecting:

[theProf]

JAYLON SMITH

LB, Notre Dame

 

What to do with Smith? Is he top-10 because of his obvious talent? Day 2 because of the knee injury he suffered in Notre Dame’s bowl game? The answer will depend on which team has enough patience to wait on Smith’s health, even if it takes a season or two. Should he get all the way back, he’s exactly the type of player that Atlanta’s defense is missing.

 

 

Braxton Miller

WR, Ohio State

 

Miller as the new No. 2 receiver behind Julio Jones

 

 

http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/02/10/2016-nfl-mock-draft-laremy-tunsil-paxton-lynch-jalen-ramsey

[Return of the Gaucho]

Ugh, too high for both guys.  The last thing TD should do is grab a guy in the first round with injury concerns.  I like Braxton Miller, but not in the second.  Even if he lights up the combine and pro-day, he is raw.  Precision routes and timing are key in the WCO, so he would likely not make an impact for several seasons even if he pans out.

 

There is a reason I cancelled SI.

[Robb4242]

It's not awful.....IF we sign enough of the right FA's to allow us to wait until the 2nd season for both our #1 & #2 picks to develop/recover.

IMO, Jaylon Smith is probably the best pick we could make, regardless of the injury, even though we do need immediate help.  If we take Smith #1 though, it's hard to see taking a developmental guy #2.  Love Miller's potential but very risky to take both those guys.

[Ovie_Lover]

3 minutes ago, Return of the Gaucho said:

Ugh, too high for both guys.  The last thing TD should do is grab a guy in the first round with injury concerns.  I like Braxton Miller, but not in the second.  Even if he lights up the combine and pro-day, he is raw.  Precision routes and timing are key in the WCO, so he would likely not make an impact for several seasons even if he pans out.

 

There is a reason I cancelled SI.

One injury. 

[Return of the Gaucho]

3 minutes ago, Yo_Lover said:

One injury. 

 

Injury prone may not be the word, but tearing multiple tendons in your knee 4 months before the draft and 8 months before the season starts is not good.  He is a talent, but I don't think he is so amazing that you take a shot in the dark on him in the first round without knowing how his knee will return.  Especially when you are a GM with Sam Baker, Peria Jerry and Sean Weatherspoon under your first round belt.  Not dissing the kids talent, but the pick doesn't make sense for a lot of reasons.

[theProf]

13 minutes ago, Robb4242 said:

It's not awful.....IF we sign enough of the right FA's to allow us to wait until the 2nd season for both our #1 & #2 picks to develop/recover.

IMO, Jaylon Smith is probably the best pick we could make, regardless of the injury, even though we do need immediate help.  If we take Smith #1 though, it's hard to see taking a developmental guy #2.  Love Miller's potential but very risky to take both those guys.

That is the primary consideration. If Atlanta does not sign a starting-caliber OLB in Free agency, then there would be no way I would want Jaylon Smith in the first round. However, I could possibly see going with Braxton Miller in the second round, even if Atlanta does not sign a starting-caliber WR in FA. If Atlanta does not cut Roddy, I think he could still be an adequate #2 WR for one more season, if used properly and he finally learns Shanny's playbook. If Roddy is cut, then Atlanta needs to sign a #2 WR in Free Agency.

[Ovie_Lover]

13 minutes ago, Return of the Gaucho said:

 

Injury prone may not be the word, but tearing multiple tendons in your knee 4 months before the draft and 8 months before the season starts is not good.  He is a talent, but I don't think he is so amazing that you take a shot in the dark on him in the first round without knowing how his knee will return.  Especially when you are a GM with Sam Baker, Peria Jerry and Sean Weatherspoon under your first round belt.  Not dissing the kids talent, but the pick doesn't make sense for a lot of reasons.

They'll have access to doctor reports. If they're good and he'll come back healthy you take him. 

[ShanghaiDirtyBird]

Being a huge Notre Dame fan (lifelong...like I'm a lifelong Falcons fan), I can tell you Jaylon Smith is an athletic freak...in the same way Julio and Clowney and Calvin Johnson are described as such. Also superior work ethic. He'd be like Julio on defense and I have full confidence he'll bounce back. But it did happen very late in the season, in the bowl game. So, I can go either way. I've got no problem taking him. But I wouldn't mind having somebody that can contribute on day 1. But Jaylon is a small risk. He's one of those guys that is just built differently than other human beings.

Edited February 11, 2016 by ShanghaiDirtyBird

[Ryanless Falcons]

ACL surgery and injuries aren't the same as they were in the past and even 6 years ago.  There's more comeback success stories than not now.  Gurley, Peterson, Thomas Davis.  It's not like Smith is in the trenches and needs to use it as a base.  He'll comeback as strong as ever if he rehabs correctly.

[jeffro2000]

I would take Smith and wait for him to get healthy. He is too good of a talent that we would have no shot at if it wasn't for the injury.

I know we need immediate help at LB and OL especially but I would be willing to wait. Hopefully we fill some holes thru FA and can take BPA without being tied to a position.

[Sun Tzu 7]

34 minutes ago, theProf said:

That is the primary consideration. If Atlanta does not sign a starting-caliber OLB in Free agency, then there would be no way I would want Jaylon Smith in the first round. However, I could possibly see going with Braxton Miller in the second round, even if Atlanta does not sign a starting-caliber WR in FA. If Atlanta does not cut Roddy, I think he could still be an adequate #2 WR for one more season, if used properly and he finally learns Shanny's playbook. If Roddy is cut, then Atlanta needs to sign a #2 WR in Free Agency.

Having a guy that doesn't have much experience playing WR being coached by a guy that has less experience coaching WRs doesn't make me feel good about the timetable for Miller's development if he came here.

Someone needs to call Terrance Mathis...

[Hashbrown3]

Yes on Jaylon

No on any WR in the 2nd.

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

That would be a pretty terrific haul from a "best player available" perspective. 

Smith was a Top 3-5 type prospect pre-injury. Miller is a special athlete with terrific vision, good size, and more polish than he's given credit for. Not to mention his versatility. If he kills it at the combine, he won't make it to Round 2. 

[FentayeJones]

I can live with this scenario  in the first two rounds depending on how free agency goes.

Edited February 11, 2016 by FentayeJones

[Spts1]

Man, i would gamble on Smith. He can do it all........

Edited February 11, 2016 by slickgadawg

[PackOfRabidDawgs]

I think Smith will be gone before he gets to us but if he is there, Dimi/Quinn will have to take him. He is as close to a sure thing as you can get. Look at Gurley: he only missed a handful of games, came back and won ROTY. You don't pass on that kind of talent at a position of need. 

[FalconOdense]

I like the first pick, hate the second pick.

Give me Mario Williams, a guard and center in FA.

Give me Jaylon Smith in the first and give me the best safety/best pass rusher in the second.

[atlshocker]

Anyone can get injured or suddenly become injury prone. Always a gamble. Id grab him but no to a wideout. Too many other needs. Dont need to draft a wr this year. 

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

52 minutes ago, Return of the Gaucho said:

 

Injury prone may not be the word, but tearing multiple tendons in your knee 4 months before the draft and 8 months before the season starts is not good.  He is a talent, but I don't think he is so amazing that you take a shot in the dark on him in the first round without knowing how his knee will return.  Especially when you are a GM with Sam Baker, Peria Jerry and Sean Weatherspoon under your first round belt.  Not dissing the kids talent, but the pick doesn't make sense for a lot of reasons.

I've only watched one "game"'s worth of footage on him so I don't have a full personal assessment. But I've heard people talk about him like he is that sort of rare LB prospect. And yeah, the injury sucks...particularly the timing. But we'll get word in the next week or so his medical check goes at the Combine (assuming he goes). We'll then have another ~2 months or so before we'll know if he needs to go to the medical re-check. I would think that he would but that'll give the teams additional data. 

The Baker/Jerry/Weatherspoon thing doesnt fly for me....that's effectively drafting based on superstition. Players get hurt. Sometimes, teams have a lot of players get hurt repeatedly. Other times, teams go a year or two or more with no significant injuries anywhere on the roster. Thats just how the injury dice work. 

I'd be more comfortable taking Smith after a trade down in 1. Maybe drop down to ~25, pick up an extra third and then take him. 

IDK yet. But I think these are the types of moves that, if they work out, can really prop a team up in overall standing. It might be worth the gamble. 

[RHEC]

1 hour ago, theProf said:

JAYLON SMITH

LB, Notre Dame

 

What to do with Smith? Is he top-10 because of his obvious talent? Day 2 because of the knee injury he suffered in Notre Dame’s bowl game? The answer will depend on which team has enough patience to wait on Smith’s health, even if it takes a season or two. Should he get all the way back, he’s exactly the type of player that Atlanta’s defense is missing.

 

 

Braxton Miller

WR, Ohio State

 

Miller as the new No. 2 receiver behind Julio Jones

 

 

http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/02/10/2016-nfl-mock-draft-laremy-tunsil-paxton-lynch-jalen-ramsey

Why the heck would we waste a 2nd round pick on a project?

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

2 minutes ago, atlshocker said:

Anyone can get injured or suddenly become injury prone. Always a gamble. Id grab him but no to a wideout. Too many other needs. Dont need to draft a wr this year. 

Yes we do. 

1) Its a massive need for the team

2) This is a strong WR class. 

Gotta take a WR in the first three rounds, IMO. 

[Jesus]

Last year we took a receiver who had never used a playbook and waited 6 weeks to get him into the lineup. He also is an NCAA record holder for catches. Braxton looks like a lot of work. Why spend a second round pick on a guy who might not play for weeks. Same goes for the number one pick.

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

1 minute ago, Jesus said:

Last year we took a receiver who had never used a playbook and waited 6 weeks to get him into the lineup. He also is an NCAA record holder for catches. Braxton looks like a lot of work. Why spend a second round pick on a guy who might not play for weeks. Same goes for the number one pick.

I don't think Braxton looks like a lot of work at all nor do I think he would sit the bench. 

People are viewing Miller in the wrong lens, IMO. He's not Matt Jones. 

[Jesus]

2 minutes ago, DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry said:

I don't think Braxton looks like a lot of work at all nor do I think he would sit the bench. 

People are viewing Miller in the wrong lens, IMO. He's not Matt Jones. 

Maybe, but this team was very cautious and weird with our receivers last year. No one seemed capable of being a solid #2 WR. I bet Raheem can whip them into shape...oh boy.

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

25 minutes ago, Jesus said:

Maybe, but this team was very cautious and weird with our receivers last year. No one seemed capable of being a solid #2 WR. I bet Raheem can whip them into shape...oh boy.

I think we got caught flat-footed. We hoped Hankerson could stay healthy, hoped Roddy had a bit left in the tank and figured we could bring Hardy along slowly. But Hester missed a huge part of the year, Roddy is beat/disengaged, Hank got hurt, and Hardy had to get rushed to the field. 

I'd like to sign at least one solid, capable FA, draft a kid in the first 3 rounds, keep bringin hardy along and try to build a steady unit for the next two-three seasons. It should be pretty easily attainable this offseason. If we could get WR2 taken care of in free agency, it would put us in the best situation to take advantage of a guy like Braxton, who can work outside or work inside.