Looking to the Future: What Prospects Are You Sold On?

[LaurentRobinsonDaGawd]

As of right now, we hold the 4th pick in the draft. This draft can benefit us in many ways, as it is very deep in OL and interior DL.

With that said, there are only a select few players I am 100% sold on that high in the draft so far. 

1. Chase Young EDGE Ohio State - As long as we continue to lose, you are guaranteed to hear this name a lot in these boards(as often as Gurley and Beasley in 2015, or Mack and Clowney in 2014). Chase Young is possibly the best pass rushing prospect since either Mack and Clowney in 2014, or Von Miller in 2011. Yes, that means higher than the Bosa brothers, who also hailed from Ohio State. He's got that special blend of size and athleticism off the edges. Uses his hands well, and bends the edge perfectly. He is slippery, and forces fumbles when he gets to the QB.  

The down side to Chase Young, has nothing to do with Chase Young. The down side is that the DE class drops off after him, in regards to elite pass rushers.  IMO, he's the only elite pass rusher off the edge in this draft.

Young would give us that cornerstone pass rusher that we have been craving, and needing, since JA55 departed. Our back 7 would look a lot better with a steady, legitimate pass rush. Young would be the biggest step possible towards that goal next off-season.  

2. Andrew Thomas G/T Georgia - Like Chase Young, Thomas is one of the better prospects his position has seen in recent years. His potential is off the charts, and has a ridiculous athleticism for the OL position. He is massive already, and has the team to handle adding weight, without losing athletacism. He's also got exceptional length.

Our OL is something that needs to be addressed, almost as much as the pass rush.  If given the opportunity to draft Thomas, we could either slot him in at LG, and see him dominate from day 1 like Nelson did for the Colts. If we want to slot him at RT, we could slide McGary to LG, and he could still show off his grit and athleticism next to Jake Matthews. 

Bottom line, you will always find a spot on the OL with a versatile talent like Andrew Thomas. Not only do we need to protect the QB, but we also need to get a boost in our running game. The inconsistency in our running game is a very underrated reason why our offense has been inconsistent the past couple years. 

3. Derrick Brown DT Auburn - If Brown would have entered the 2019 draft, a few people would have put him toe to toe with Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver as the best DT prospects in that draft, and he would have been well ahead of the 2nd group that was led by Christian Wilkins, IMO. 

Brown is an absolute monster of a DT, with an exceptional blend of size and athleticism.  He has a crazy burst off the ball, that you just don't see from a man that stands 6'5" and over 300 lbs.  

Adding Brown would give us an exceptional tandem of Grady Jarrett and Derrick Brown on the interior. Our defense as a whole has been god awful, but adding Brown would bolster not only our interior pass rush, but would allow us to take a big step forward in defending the run.

4. Tua Tagovailoa QB Alabama - Until I watch more of Justin Herbert, Tua is the only QB I would be confident taking in the 2020 draft. I am on the side of keeping Matt Ryan, but we all need to consider that a potential new HC and GM may want to start a new era at the QB position. If we are in position to grab Tua, it means that not only did we not improve the rest of 2019, but things got even worse.  If a new regime wants to go with the youth movement at the QB position, then Tua would be my choice to be the new face of the franchise, while also being able to deal Matt Ryan for multiple high draft picks.  

Tua has a cannon of an arm, and has an accurate deep ball. He's one of the poster boys for the "new" NFL QB.  He can either drop a 30 yard dime in the breadbasket, or make defenders miss on a 25 yard run. He has all the mental and physical tools of a franchise QB, and someone who I would approve of replacing Matt Ryan if a new regime wishes to go that route. 

***NOTE***: I want Matt Ryan as thus teams QB, and he has shown no signs of slowing down. Outside of a few INT due to miscommunication to star the year, he has been on an absolute tear this year. He is also showing a potential future HC that an elite Matt Ryan isn't enough to win you games without a defense, OL, or running game. The only reason I listed Tua, is because we need to come to the realization that a new regime with a new GM and HC may want to start from scratch, and really clean house. I dont think AB would allow that, but I also am not convinced that route isn't out of the question. There's slot of questions that need to be answered next off-season, and the direction of the QB(if we have a top 2-3 pick) may need to be discussed, especially if we are offered a 1st round pick, and another high round pick.

As of now, these are the only prospects I am fully on board with for the 2020 draft, if we are going to have a top 3-5 pick. The combination of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are simply too talented to win only 1-3 games. Although, I think getting a Chase Young would be much more important to our future, than a couple more meaningless wins in a lost year.

There are some prospects that I like, but I simply don't think a high 1st would warrant a pick at that position.  

Here are some players that I am talking about:

- Jeffrey Okudah CB Ohio State - The reason I wouldn't take Okudah with a top 5 pick is that CB isn't a position that would benefit us as greatly as other positions like DL and OL, unless it's a prosepct like Jalen Ramsey or Patrick Peterson. Okudah simply isn't on that level, so I would have to pass. He is a great prospect, but I would only take him WITH THIS ROSTER if it was outside of the top 10. Another roster could use a great CB, so that could warrant a top 10 pick. Our defense is in too much trouble to grab a CB in the first. A pass rush alone would improve the CB's we already have. Pass rush comes first. 

Jerry Jeudy WR Alabama - Even if he is the best WR prospect in recent years, he is a pick that I wouldn't take in the high 1st FOR THIS TEAM.  Maybe for another team. Similar to Okudah, addressing other parts of the offense will improve our offense more than a WR.  Adding a tip level talent to the OL, would do more than a top level WR. More time in the passing game, will give Matt more time to get the ball to players like Ridley and Julio, or open holes for players like Freeman and Ito. I would rather grab an elite RB, than an elite WR, even considering the current shelf life for an average NFL RB.  

Grant Delpit S LSU - If we didn't have Keanu already, than I would be all on board for Delpit as a top 5-1p pick. While I certainly think he could play FS, I think he's a much better fit at SS.  If I'm spending a high 1st on a FS, then that prospect needs to have the range of an Earl Thomas, or the complete game of an Eric Berry or Jamal Adams.

There are a few more DL prospects I'm going to look over the next few days, but these are the players I think are the top prospects in the draft, when you also include fit. There will be some B level prospects I will talk about down the line(16-32 range), but that will be a while. The first 4 players I listed, are the only "home run" prospects I see as an elite fit so far in this draft class. If we want an elite edge rusher in the 1st, then there is a bug drop off after Chase Young, until someone makes a late season push, and also has a great pre-draft/combine showing.  This 1st round(as of now) is littered with QB's, WR's, OL, and DT. I just hope we can man a player in April that we are ALL on board with, because this next draft is a BIG crossroads for this franchises future. We whiff in the 2020 draft, and we could be looking at quite a few top 10 selections over the next few years.

 

[LaurentRobinsonDaGawd]

Accidentally did a double post. Mods,  please delete one of them. 

[Knight of God]

Grant Delpit

[izibit74]

Tua and the LSU quarterback

[MSalmon]

Honestly, I love Tua, but I’m not sure that he’ll stand the physical rigors of the NFL. Wilson and Murray are undersized but both were physical and held up well in college, obviously wilson has held up well in pros and I think Murray may. But Tua has left the game many times already. Durability is a big part of a QBs success

tua was knocked out of several big games and is out yet again with a high ankle sprain.

i would consider in late first round a move up to grab Fromme depending on how I forecast him as a backup and either heir successor to Ryan or trade bait. Nothing to do with UGA but I think Jake needs a bit of seasoning but is a good study. Roll him as Matt’s backup, and in a couple of years reevaluate The QB situation. If Matt is still humming trade fromme for a nice pick, or retain with rookie cheap contract. It’s a win/win

[lju713]

Players I think can help us turn around

DE Chase Young- has technique to match his physical gifts. Reminds me of a more athletic version of Can Jordan

DT Derrick Brown- big and physical. Great athlete for a man that big. He and Grady together would be a great tandem

RB- DeAndre Swift- I not saying draft him top 10. But if he slips past #20 we need to trade back into the 1st round and get him. He has that Kamara effect on an offense. He can run it, catch it, and line up in the slot as a WR. We all know we are stuck with Matt at least 3 more years, and he needs a run game to be successful.

LT- Andrew Thomas- spent 80m on the OL last off-season. I doubt we go OL in the 1st. But if he is the BPA at the time we pick.....I'm all for it

S- Grant Delpit- he fits the new mold for a safety. Tall,fast,physical and can play both FS,and SS. Looks more like a FS to me, but in most NFL defenses the S spots are interchangeable.

[Faithful Falcon]

QB: Herbert. I think he can come in and learn the system and game under Ryan.

DL: Nick Coe. It's time to start getting the right defensive personnel. Dexter Lawrence would have been a start for this season. Big rushing DTs work good as 3-4 DEs. 

EDGE: Chase Young always come to mind, but we can suck just bad enough to miss out on him. Julian Okwara from Notre Dame will fill the role nicely.

LB: Murray from Oklahoma

 

[MSalmon]

3 hours ago, lju713 said:

Players I think can help us turn around

DE Chase Young- has technique to match his physical gifts. Reminds me of a more athletic version of Can Jordan

DT Derrick Brown- big and physical. Great athlete for a man that big. He and Grady together would be a great tandem

RB- DeAndre Swift- I not saying draft him top 10. But if he slips past #20 we need to trade back into the 1st round and get him. He has that Kamara effect on an offense. He can run it, catch it, and line up in the slot as a WR. We all know we are stuck with Matt at least 3 more years, and he needs a run game to be successful.

LT- Andrew Thomas- spent 80m on the OL last off-season. I doubt we go OL in the 1st. But if he is the BPA at the time we pick.....I'm all for it

S- Grant Delpit- he fits the new mold for a safety. Tall,fast,physical and can play both FS,and SS. Looks more like a FS to me, but in most NFL defenses the S spots are interchangeable.

I like swift the more I watch him. He’s Freeman with more power and speed

[ATLSlobberKnockers]

4 hours ago, Faithful Falcon said:

QB: Herbert. I think he can come in and learn the system and game under Ryan.

DL: Nick Coe. It's time to start getting the right defensive personnel. Dexter Lawrence would have been a start for this season. Big rushing DTs work good as 3-4 DEs. 

EDGE: Chase Young always come to mind, but we can suck just bad enough to miss out on him. Julian Okwara from Notre Dame will fill the role nicely.

LB: Murray from Oklahoma

 

Dexter Lawrence is a turkey leg away from 350. He would be a prototypical NT, but DE he aint.

[ATLSlobberKnockers]

On 10/17/2019 at 3:32 AM, Knight of God said:

Grant Delpit

Your obsessed with safeties

[Faithful Falcon]

7 minutes ago, ATLSlobberKnockers said:

Dexter Lawrence is a turkey leg away from 350. He would be a prototypical NT, but DE he aint.

Not prototypical. He can be a NT though. If we're trying to operate out of a 3-4, personnel is important.

[ATLSlobberKnockers]

4 minutes ago, Faithful Falcon said:

Not prototypical. He can be a NT though. If we're trying to operate out of a 3-4, personnel is important.

6'4" 3 45 pds is prototypical NT size. 

[EpicBird]

If not Chase Young, then Derrick Brown all day long

[Knight of God]

3 hours ago, ATLSlobberKnockers said:

Your obsessed with safeties

I’m obsessed with the fact we seem to undervalue them here and still have the same issues. How about try something different 

[4dabirds]

It doesn't matter, because this team won't draft the right player, or will draft the right player and not be able to adequately develop that player. The Falcons are garbage from top to bottom. 

[thanat0s]

I find it funny how Tua gets so many ‘cannon arm’ references from fans, but I know I’ve seen and read scouting pundits say that he doesn’t have elite arm strength.

of course, it’s moot because we aren’t drafting a QB, but imho, Tua is fool’s gold, just like both Winston and Mariota were. 

[PeytonMannings Forehead]

3 hours ago, EpicBird said:

If not Chase Young, then Derrick Brown all day long

Derrick Brown is a hoss.

[lju713]

5 hours ago, MSalmon said:

I like swift the more I watch him. He’s Freeman with more power and speed

He is just better. All around the world, and he has a Julio Jones type work ethic too

[HouseofEuphoria]

4 hours ago, ATLSlobberKnockers said:

Your obsessed with safeties

Dan Quinn's system relies on a big, athletic SS that can play in the box.

When you haven't had a healthy SS in two seasons, it's hard not to obsess over them.

Keanu Neals (and jj Wilcox) injuries this year will mean DQ's job.

New GM will have some serious work to do.

[Spliff]

Tua is Mariota Griffin III. Explosive plays, exploding ligaments. 

[*TMo*]

We will not get any the guys listed. Once we're officially out of the playoffs we will win out.

[RHEC]

Chase Young comes here, he'll be another bust for us.

[*TMo*]

Just now, Nereek said:

Chase Young comes here, he'll be another bust for us.

Very sadly true.

[ATLSlobberKnockers]

3 hours ago, HouseofEuphoria said:

Dan Quinn's system relies on a big, athletic SS that can play in the box.

When you haven't had a healthy SS in two seasons, it's hard not to obsess over them.

Keanu Neals (and jj Wilcox) injuries this year will mean DQ's job.

New GM will have some serious work to do.

Doubt TD goes anywhere. DQs system won't be a problem next season

[A-TowN.-]

Chase Young is who we desperately need. If he’s not there, Derrick Brown and Isaiah Simmons could be game changers for us too.  
 

Just anyone who can disrupt the passing game. Either a player who can after the QB, or a player who can lock down a chunk of the field. I’d prefer it be an Edge guy since we haven’t had a consistent pass rusher since Abraham.