Prospect Meetings by Position & Round

[Beef]

Just thought I'd put this together so we can see who we're looking at and where.  Let me know if I'm missing anyone or if I have someone ranked improperly.  These are all the folks the Falcons have met with.  Some have just been meetings at the Combine, Senior Bowl, E/W Shrine Game, some have been campus Pro Days, and others have been official workouts either on school campus or brought to Flowery Branch for a private.  But as far as I know, this is everyone.  If I get a chance later, I may even label how we met with them.

DL:

DL Vita Vea, Washington - 1st
DL Da’Ron Payne, Alabama - 1st
DL Taven Bryan, Florida - 1st
DL B.J. Hill, N.C. State - 2nd
DL Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State - 3rd
DL Breeland Speaks, Mississippi - 3rd
DL P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State - 3rd-4th
DL R.J. McIntosh, Miami - 3rd-4th
DL Folorunso Fatukasi, Connecticut - 4th
DL Deadrin Senat, South Florida - 4th-5th
DL Kentavius Street, N.C. State - 5th
DL Justin Jones, N.C. State - 5th-6th
DL Jullian Taylor, Temple - 7th
DL McKay Murphy, Weber State - UDFA
DL Kingsley Opara, Maryland - UDFA

LB:

LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama - 1st
LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State - 1st
LB Uchenna Nwosu, Southern California - 2nd
LB Dorian O’Daniel, Clemson - 5th
LB Jack Cichy, Wisconsin - 5th
LB Fred Warner, BYU - 5th
LB Genard Avery, Memphis - 5th
LB Foye Oluokun, Yale - UDFA
LB Deion Pierre, Samford - UDFA
LB Patrick Afriyie, Colgate - UDFA
LB Junior Joseph, Connecticut - UDFA

EDGE:

EDGE Harold Landry, Boston College - 1st
EDGE Joe Ostman, Central Michigan - 7th+
EDGE Davin Bellamy, Georgia - 7th+
EDGE Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State - 7th+
EDGE Jake Martin, Temple - UDFA
EDGE Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, UCLA - UDFA
EDGE Danny Ezechukwu, Purdue - UDFA
EDGE KeShun Freeman, Georgia Tech - UDFA

CB:

CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville - 1st-2nd
CB Isaiah Oliver, Colorado - 1st-2nd
CB D.J. Reed, Kansas State - 3rd-4th
CB Grant Haley, Penn State - 4th
CB Michael Joseph, Dubuque - 6th
CB Linden Stephens, Cincinnati - UDFA
CB Rashard Fant, Indiana - UDFA
CB Lance Austin, Georgia Tech - UDFA
CB Chandon Sullivan, Georgia State - UDFA
CB Malik Boynton, Austin Peay - UDFA
CB Jerrell Foster, Kent State - UDFA
CB Mike Minter Jr., Middle Tennessee - UDFA

S:

S Siran Neal, Jacksonville, St. - 5th-6th
S D.J. Smith, South Carolina - 6th-7th
S Afolabi Laguda, Colorado - UDFA
S Corey Griffin, Georgia Tech - UDFA

OL:

OT Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame -1st
OT Kolton Miller, UCLA - 1st-2nd
OC James Daniel, Iowa - 1st-2nd
OC Frank Ragnow, Arkansas - 2nd
OG Braden Smith, Auburn - 2nd-3rd
OT Tyrell Crosby, Oregon - 3rd
OT Brandon Parker, North Carolina A&T - 3rd
OG Tony Adams, N.C. State - 7th+
OT Brett Toth, Army - 7th+
OT Rick Leonard, Florida State - 7th+
OC Austin Golson, Auburn - 7th+
OG Cory Helms, South Carolina - 7th+
OG Anthony Coyle, Fordham - 7th+
OG Matthew Gono, Wesley  - UDFA
OG Jeremi Hall, South Florida - UDFA
OT Korey Cunningham, Cincinnati - UDFA
OT Jamil Demby, Maine - UDFA
OC Tejen Koroma, BYU - UDFA
OC Patrick Morris, Texas Christian - UDFA
OC Harley Vaughn, West Georgia - UDFA

RB:

RB Ronald Jones II, USC - 2nd
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia - 2nd
RB Kalen Ballage, Arizona State - 3rd
RB Nyheim Hines, N.C. State - 4th
RB Chase Edmonds, Fordham - 7th+
RB Boston Scott, Louisiana Tech - UDFA
RB Malik Williams, Louisville - UDFA
RB J.J. Green, Georgia Tech  - UDFA
RB Mark Thompson, Florida - UDFA

WR:

WR Dante Pettis, Washington - 2nd
WR Keke Coutee, Texas Tech  - 4th-5th
WR DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State - 4th-5th
WR Deontay Burnett, USC - 4th-5th
WR Javon Wims, Georgia - 6th+
WR Richie James, Middle Tennessee - 7th+
WR Vyncint Smith, Limestone - 7th+
WR Jonah Trinnaman, BYU - UDFA
WR Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State - UDFA
WR Dorren Miller, Carson-Newman - UDFA
WR Ray Bolden, Stony Brook - UDFA

TE:

TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina - 1st-2nd
TE Ian Thomas, Indiana - 3rd
TE Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin - 4th-5th
TE Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan - 7th+
TE Jake Roh, Boise St. - UDFA
TE Nate Wozniak, Minnesota - UDFA

FB:

FB Jaylen Samuels, N.C. State - 5th-6th
FB Ryan Nall, Oregon State - 6th
FB Nick Bawden, San Diego State - 6th-7th

QB:

QB Riley Ferguson, Memphis - 5th-6th
QB Kurt Benkert, Virginia - 6th-7th
QB Tanner Lee, Nebraska - 6th-7th
QB Quinton Flowers, South Florida - 6th-7th
QB Alex McGough, Florida International - UDFA
QB Brandon Goodson, Wofford - UDFA
QB Max Staver, Maine - UDFA

Edited April 25, 2018 by Beef

[takeitdown]

Interesting.  If you trust we'll draft by who we look at... it would seem like we are looking at a few different positions for first rounder, and if they don't pan out, we might not take that position until late.

TE, LB, CB seem to all fit that.

Whereas OL and DT seems like we're looking at throughout the draft.  RB looks like mid rounds.

I'm disappointed we're not looking at WR more in the early rounds as I think WR and TE are very underrated needs.

By this board, it looks like the draft will be

Round 1:  Playmaker at LB, DL, CB, maybe but unlikely TE or OL

Round 2-4:  DT, OL, RB or WR

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see a double dip at DT in the 2nd and 4th or 5th.

[Beef]

We met with all of our draft picks last year except Kazee.  And we may have met with him and just don't know about it.

But everyone else we drafted met with our FO at one point or another.

So it's a safe bet to say we draft mostly who we meet with.

[rugger8]

I am expecting Speaks to be a day 2 pick. I like him as a base DE who could reduce to DT on passing downs.

[FalconJim]

Good job, man!  Thanks for taking the time to put this together for us....I've been hoping somebody would! 

I think we have done our due diligence this year, and hopefully we'll pick the right guys to take us over the top!!! 


 

[GleasonForever!]

They must not like Tim Settles game. Huge NT with some movement. Phillips is not on the list too. There is still time though. 

[kiwifalcon]

Give me this guy can't believe I only just looked at him now.

 

[Beef]

22 minutes ago, kiwifalcon said:

Give me this guy can't believe I only just looked at him now.

 

He’s a bonafide NT, just not 340+ lbs like Vea, Poe, etc. 

He’s a definite safety net in the 4th.  Will almost assuredly still be there at 126.

 

Edit: I also love how there’s like 5 different nicknames we could make from his names. LOL

Edited April 16, 2018 by Beef

[kiwifalcon]

4 minutes ago, Beef said:

He’s a bonafide NT, just not 340+ lbs like Vea, Poe, etc. 

He’s a definite safety net in the 4th.  Will almost assuredly still be there at 126.

 

Edit: I also love how there’s like 5 different nicknames we could make from his names. LOL

To me after looking at him I see a perfect run defender with this guy.Hes stout he finds the ball his arms are great as his extension keeps olineman off him,he sheds really well.I can see why DQ sees a lot of what we need late at the DT position.

**** you give me this guy and a Nathan Shephard I'd be happy you'd solidify that interior nicely with the 2 mentioned.I can now also see why they were comfortable letting Poe go.

[Beef]

8 minutes ago, kiwifalcon said:

To me after looking at him I see a perfect run defender with this guy.Hes stout he finds the ball his arms are great as his extension keeps olineman off him,he sheds really well.I can see why DQ sees a lot of what we need late at the DT position.

**** you give me this guy and a Nathan Shephard I'd be happy you'd solidify that interior nicely with the 2 mentioned.I can now also see why they were comfortable letting Poe go.

It’s making me feel more and more we aren’t moving up in the 1st for anyone, because if our targets are gone, we have done serious due diligence on DT’s in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round projections.

I think we are specifically targeting Vea, Bryan, and Payne, and if they are all gone by 26, we will go LB, CB, or OL (Evans or LVE, Alexander or Oliver, or McGlinchy or Miller), and then falling back on Hill in the 2nd and one of the NT’s in the 3rd or 4th (Shepherd, Hall, McIntosh, or Fatukasi).

[kiwifalcon]

1 minute ago, Beef said:

It’s making me feel more and more we aren’t moving up in the 1st for anyone, because if our targets are gone, we have done serious due diligence on DT’s in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round projections.

I think we are specifically targeting Vea, Bryan, and Payne, and if they are all gone by 26, we will go LB, CB, or OL (Evans or LVE, Alexander or Oliver, or McGlinchy or Miller), and then falling back on Hill in the 2nd and one of the NT’s in the 3rd or 4th (Shepherd, Hall, McIntosh, or Fatukasi).

Yep sure looks like it.

Run defense is where it's at for me with these DTs we need stout quick block shedders upfront in my eyes and they don't need to weigh anymore than 320.

[takeitdown]

11 minutes ago, Beef said:

It’s making me feel more and more we aren’t moving up in the 1st for anyone, because if our targets are gone, we have done serious due diligence on DT’s in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round projections.

I think we are specifically targeting Vea, Bryan, and Payne, and if they are all gone by 26, we will go LB, CB, or OL (Evans or LVE, Alexander or Oliver, or McGlinchy or Miller), and then falling back on Hill in the 2nd and one of the NT’s in the 3rd or 4th (Shepherd, Hall, McIntosh, or Fatukasi).

Agreed.

My hope when they were scouting these DTs is that we were taking a WR and TE in the 1st and 3rd and DT in the 2nd and 4th because it seems good for value, and would give some young developing talent to our offense.  We would basically be fixing our biggest need on D, and amping the one thing that makes us potentially special on O.

Now it looks as though it could be LB or CB in the 1st and we'll still be waiting a bit on getting talent to develop on offense and pass catchers to take advantage of the Julio effect.

[Beef]

3 minutes ago, kiwifalcon said:

Yep sure looks like it.

Run defense is where it's at for me with these DTs we need stout quick block shedders upfront in my eyes and they don't need to weigh anymore than 320.

I’d like to not telegraph our scheme, though.  That’s a big concern for me. 

If we get two guys to reproduce Poe’s snaps, we will throw up a big telegraph as to what we are guessing the offensive play call is. 

We rotate our 320lb NT out there (most likely in Base), well we’re playing against the run. 

We rotate our 280lb DT out there (most likely in Nickel), were shooting single gaps (probably the one’s in front of the DT) playing the pass.

We didn’t really have to do this with Poe.  We could go into and Under or Over Base package and play the run or rush the passer.  Or we could leave Poe in there during our Sub packages and shift he and Jarrett up and down the interior doing the same thing. Run or pass.

But if we end up drafting guys who can only 1-gap or can only run-stop, and they have to platoon that rotation based on that, we hand the opposing offense a really big advantage. 

[Pacific_Falcon]

Not that this necessarily means anything for sure, but that short list of S probably doesn't bode well for those hoping for an upgrade at FS.

[Beef]

4 minutes ago, takeitdown said:

Agreed.

My hope when they were scouting these DTs is that we were taking a WR and TE in the 1st and 3rd and DT in the 2nd and 4th because it seems good for value, and would give some young developing talent to our offense.  We would basically be fixing our biggest need on D, and amping the one thing that makes us potentially special on O.

Now it looks as though it could be LB or CB in the 1st and we'll still be waiting a bit on getting talent to develop on offense and pass catchers to take advantage of the Julio effect.

Every year a couple WR’s from the middle and/or late rounds end up being really big gems.

A guy like Javon Wims, for instance, has incredible potential to be a gem.

UGA was a 70% running offense with a true freshman QB.  Wims caught darn near everything thrown to him in a very far from ideal WR situation. And he’s probably going to be a 6th or 7th rounder. 

If Wims were at Oklahoma, UCLA, or Wyoming, he’d have been their #1 and racked up huge stats and likely be a 1st or 2nd round grade. 

There are quite a few guys like this in this draft. 

[Beef]

8 minutes ago, Pacific_Falcon said:

Not that this necessarily means anything for sure, but that short list of S probably doesn't bode well for those hoping for an upgrade at FS.

Rico Allen isn’t going anywhere. He’s the General of the secondary and gets guys into position based on his reads.  And then he just plays above average to sometimes pretty good football.  Doesn’t take bad angles, doesn’t miss tackles, is fast and instinctual enough to always be near the ball, gets his hands on the ball sometimes, and doesn’t make big mistakes that result in big plays or TD’s very much.

I think they keep trying to draft a mid to late CB they can groom into a FS and hope they get lucky, trying to avoid having to spend a high pick on one.

[takeitdown]

8 minutes ago, Beef said:

Every year a couple WR’s from the middle and/or late rounds end up being really big gems.

A guy like Javon Wims, for instance, has incredible potential to be a gem.

UGA was a 70% running offense with a true freshman QB.  Wims caught darn near everything thrown to him in a very far from ideal WR situation. And he’s probably going to be a 6th or 7th rounder. 

If Wims were at Oklahoma, UCLA, or Wyoming, he’d have been their #1 and racked up huge stats and likely be a 1st or 2nd round grade. 

There are quite a few guys like this in this draft. 

Yeah, I actually wanted the WR in the 3rd and TE in the 1st in the optimal scenario.

I'm a big fan of underuitilized WRs in the 3rd and 4th round.  Or guys that have one good trait that works now and you hope you can bring on one or two more traits to take them from a 4th receiver to a 2nd.

[falconidae]

18 minutes ago, Beef said:

It’s making me feel more and more we aren’t moving up in the 1st for anyone, because if our targets are gone, we have done serious due diligence on DT’s in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round projections.

I think we are specifically targeting Vea, Bryan, and Payne, and if they are all gone by 26, we will go LB, CB, or OL (Evans or LVE, Alexanider or Oliver, or McGlinchy or Miller), and then falling back on Hill in the 2nd and one of the NT’s in the 3rd or 4th (Shepherd, Hall, McIntsh, or Fatukasi).

Been thinking that for a while now.  if the big three are all gone, they go BPA and double dip  at DT later

3 minutes ago, Beef said:

I’d like to not telegraph our scheme, though.  That’s a big concern for me. 

If we get two guys to reproduce Poe’s snaps, we will throw up a big telegraph as to what we are guessing the offensive play call is. 

.....

But if we end up drafting guys who can only 1-gap or can only run-stop, and they have to platoon that rotation based on that, we hand the opposing offense a really big advantage. 

While it would be nice to have versatile DTs, the run stuffer is  in base and the 1 gapper is  in nickel, isn't what they would mainly do anyway? 

[Beef]

2 minutes ago, falconidae said:

While it would be nice to have versatile DTs, the run stuffer is  in base and the 1 gapper is  in nickel, isn't what they would mainly do anyway? 

Poe played 700 snaps.  So he did both Base and Subs.

Vea and Payne are certainly this type of player in our scheme.  Bryan and Hill might be too, but it would mean they were the full time 3T always on the weak side and Jarrett would have to move to full time 1T always on the strong side.

Maybe Shepherd, Hall, or Fatukasi could also be that kind of versatile interior DL, but I think it’s a bigger gamble.  I think they are all projects and we’d be asking an awful lot of them. 

[falconidae]

22 minutes ago, Beef said:

Poe played 700 snaps.  So he did both Base and Subs.

....

I understand that.

Not understanding how a run stuffer in base and a 1 gapper in nickel is going to telegraph the defense any more than being in base or nickel already is. Agree someone who can do both is ideal, but don't think it's that big a problem.

 

[Gold4425]

We haven't even looked at Geliski?? If we get Bellamy in late rounds it will be a steal!  I was hoping  we would look at  Texas A & M FB Flowers, DT Trenton Thompson from UGA, WR's Florida's Antonio Callaway and LSU D. Clark. Also late round Safety Sanders from UGA will be a good late rounder. I like the USC LB but I don't know if I would take him in the second with all of our needs

 

[ramonezy]

After looking at that breakdown, a lot can be achieved with an additional 2nd or 3rd rounder... as much as I hate the thought, feels like trading down could be a good thing. 

[Beef]

6 minutes ago, falconidae said:

I understand that.

Not understanding how a run stuffer in base and a 1 gapper in nickel is going to telegraph the defense any more than being in base or nickel already is. Agree someone who can do both is ideal, but don't think it's that big a problem.

 

If they know a certain personnel package in Base is supposed to be exclusively run-stopping, they can recognize this and audible into a pass.  Not good if we’re in this package guessing run. 

And visa-versa.

If they know a certain personnel in Nickel is supposed to be exclusively pin your ears back and rush the passer through the lined up gap, they can recognize this and audible into a run through the empty gaps or run a screen.

It can be exploited when you know what the DL is likely doing on any given play.  It’s why pre-snap reads exist and why audibles are called.

[falcons007]

No first round QB? SMH. 

[Ergo Proxy]

4 hours ago, falcons007 said:

No first round QB? SMH. 

Did you forget we have TT?