Your Top Five Draft Prospects For The Atlanta Falcons

by Dave Choate on Apr 4, 2011 1:00 PM EDT in Editorial

Our question for this afternoon comes to us courtesy of Dawson Devitt at The Bird Cage Blog, who wants to know his readers' picks for the top five guys the Atlanta Falcons should draft.

I wanted to bring that discussion over this way because it's a great idea from Devitt, but also because this is something we haven't spent a lot of time on. Most of you have one or two guys you feel passionately about and have let the community know about, but not many of you have identified a real top five list for us. It's as good a time as any, right?

My top five? Very heavy with pass rushers of all stripes. IIt goes something like this at the moment, though my wild mood swings means it's susceptible to changing daily:

DE Ryan Kerrigan
DE/OLB Justin Houston
OT Gabe Carimi
OLB Akeem Ayers
DE Allen Bailey

Share yours in the comments.

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Comments

(1) Torrey Smith
(2) Torrey Smith
(3) Torrey Smith
(4) Torrey Smith
(5) Torrey Smith

You didn’t mean five different players, did you?

by James Rael on Apr 4, 2011 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Thwarted again

by Dave Choate on Apr 4, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Those meddling kids!

by FLA_Falcon on Apr 4, 2011 4:50 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Who's that?

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Apr 4, 2011 7:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

(1) Justin Houston
(2) Gabe Carimi
(3) Nate Solder
(4) Brandon Harris
(5) Jimmy Smith

by #1FalconsFan on Apr 4, 2011 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

at (or around) #27, my favorites are:

1. Justin Houston
2. Leonard Hankerson
3. Ryan Kerrigan
4. Derek Sherrod
5. Gabe Carimi

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Apr 4, 2011 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Assuming that you mean the realistice top 5 that we would choose in the first round

1) Ryan Kerrigan
2) Justin Houston
3) Pouncey
4) Torrey Smith
5) Jimmy Smith

by Fear Me on Apr 4, 2011 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

Unfortunately I don't watch college ball so I can't make an educated suggestion on any specific player just position.

My question is in the last say 3 or so years how have local and national analyst/bloggers done in picking specifically for the falcons? Or even the patriots when TD was involved?

"I'm about rings now"
~Arthur Blank

by CollegePark4Life on Apr 4, 2011 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

The last few years they've been pretty good.

I think anybody could’ve called Matt Ryan. The next year we knew they were going DT but couldn’t pinpoint Peria Jerry, and then last year I think Weatherspoon was easy to figure out. But this year is different, IMO, because of the lockout. Signings of veterans really helped in narrowing down possible picks

by Fear Me on Apr 4, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Jamie Dukes correctly picked JA98

…unfortunately

by FLA_Falcon on Apr 4, 2011 4:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

1. Justin Houston
2. Nate Solder (I’ve seen a few mocks where he drops this far, but I doubt he does)
3. Ryan Kerrigan
4. Gabe Carimi
5. Derek Sherrod

by orion12 on Apr 4, 2011 2:19 PM EDT reply actions

1. Justin Houston
2. Derek Sherrod
3. Gabe Carimi
4. Kyle Rudolph
5. Jon Baldwin

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Apr 4, 2011 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

1. Ryan Kerrigan (I think he’ll be gone)
2. Nate Solder (I think he’ll be gone)
3. Justin Houston (Not my pick but quite likely)
4. Gabe Carimi (I think he’ll be gone)
5. Torrey Smith (Everyone knows that most fans “want” a real threat at #2 WR, but I don’t see a 1st round pick at WR unless all the DL and OL talent that the Falcons have targeted are off the board at pick 27, which of course is very possible).

by Caviarhound on Apr 4, 2011 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

1) Gabe Carimi
2)Ryan Kerrigan
3)Kyle Rudolph
4)Justin Houston
5) Jon Baldwin

by FilaLee33 on Apr 4, 2011 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

Why not...

1) Kerrigan
2) Houston
3) Carimi
4) Sherrod
5) Clayborn

by KMarch on Apr 4, 2011 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

Things that make ya go mmmmm..

1) JJ Watt
2) Ryan Kerrigan
3) Gabe Carimi
4) Justin Houston
5) Allen Bailey

by Winged Preditor on Apr 4, 2011 6:58 PM EDT reply actions

Lmao my 8th grade history teacher always said that

1) Ryan Kerrigan
2) Justin Houston
3) Leonard Hankerson
4) Pouncey
5) Gabe Carimi

by Speedytosin on Apr 4, 2011 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

top 5

1. Clayborn
2. Houston
3. Kerrigan
4. Pouncey
5. Carimi

by FalcNole on Apr 4, 2011 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

I don't care how much you love the Bulldogs...

The Falcons aren’t drafting Justin Houston. I’d be happy to put money on that, BTW.

Kerrigan
Cameron Heyward
Carimi (probably gone)
Pouncey
Sherrod

Remember to stretch before running to BVG injuries.

by VaderX5 on Apr 5, 2011 3:58 AM EDT reply actions

Amazing, the Falcons and Saints needs are so dramatically the same.

DE, OLB, OT. Although I’m fine with the Saints adding a non DE-OLB-OT…So long as it is a special someone.

Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!

by Jon Banks on Apr 5, 2011 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

IMO

Adrian Clayborn
Gabe Carimi
Mike Pouncey
Allen Bailey
Brandon Harris

by hadayia on Apr 5, 2011 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

first trade down, then draft one (or two) of

the LTs Sherrod, Carimi, Costanzo
and then a DE that falls like Houston, or Allen Bailey

and if all else fails (after a trade down) then TE Kyle Randolph, or WRs Jon Baldwin, or Torrey Smith

by durst on Apr 5, 2011 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

Well-rounded

Well-rounded recruits are most important. Disciplined in all areas including Academically

by Stopthehaters on Apr 5, 2011 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

Everyone has Ryan Kerrigan on their list? To me he’s just a larger Brooking. He’ll be gone early but I wouldn’t want him in the first half of first round.

I prefer Cameron Jordan over Kerrigan.

Except for injury concerns i’m ready to take a player with an attitude problem. Take a chance on Adrian Clayborn, I don’t like him but we need some nastiness on defense. Plus he outplayed Derrick Morgan bigtime during the Ga Tech/Iowa bowl game from 2010.

Take the best available player in the first round regardless of attitude. I believe we’ll get some excellent players in Round 2&3. Personally I wish we traded up into the top of 2nd Round and grab a Top TE or DL prospect. I believe the 2nd round will see some First Round talent dropping into 2nd and I want to be there to scoop up.

by JCush on Apr 5, 2011 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

And if Mallet is available in 2nd Round go grab him.

by JCush on Apr 5, 2011 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

If we're lucky

1. Watt (I doubt he falls that far)
2. Kerrigan
3. Carimi
4. Sherrod
5. Torrey Smith

Unless Julio Jones or AJ Green free fall to us (Doubt it.)

by ndnpride8806 on Apr 6, 2011 1:17 AM EDT reply actions

Your list are Highly Rated Players By NFL

Ryan Kerrigen is 13th Rated (GRADED) 8.3, Justin Houston 19th Graded 8.1,
24th Gabe Camrimi is Graded 8.0, 28th Akeem Ayers is Graded Between 7.9 .Others rated: Mike Pouncey OL 20th 8.1, CB Jimmy Smith 23rd 8.0, 25th Nate Solder 7.9,
14th JJ Watt 8.3 15 DT Corey Luiget 8.3 From ATLANTA FALCON WAR ROOM NFL DRAFT GRADE.Mickel Lashore is #45 Grade of 7.4 I think.Rahim Moore is #33 .
On Running Backs Even For Special Teams These Backs……… J Todman Had 9 100 yd games 1- 212 yard game 5 ft 8 in 9th in yards 4.40 second 40 yard time, V Tano had 9 100 yard games 5ft 9in 12th Rushing. M. Leshore had 8 100 yard Games 6.0 Ft one 321 yard game 10th rushing, Taiwan Jones 6 ft had 7-100 yard games 2 games over 200 yards 218 Yards and 278 yards. Second Rushing, Kendall Hunter is 5ft 7 in,
6 100 yd games 2 games over 200 259yards and 201 yards, Bilil Powell 5ft 11 in had 4 ovewr 100 yard games 2 over 200 inc 200 and 233 yards , Big 6ft 2 in Daniel Thomas
had 4 100 yard games with a 269 yard game.6ft Alex Green had a 327 yard game and 3 100 games 5ft 11 in Roy Helu Nebraska had 100 yard games 1 304 yard game
a 4.42 40 yard time . Other rb’s with great times on 40 yard dash at NFL Combine were RB D . Scott (Maryland) 4.34, Mario Fannin Auburn 4.38 Time. RB J. Todman (Conn) 4.40 D. Lokke Kentucky 4.40, D Murray OKla 4.41, R Helu 5 ft 11 in Nebraska 4.42

Any of these might have the Opportunity to Contribuate as Back up to Michael Turner RB and special teams.

by Jeff Gibson on Apr 7, 2011 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

I like all your choices but I feel that Ingram will somehow fall to the Falcons

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Apr 7, 2011 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

I would like to see Falcons get a good RB to compliment Burner

So here are my top 5 choices:

RB 1 Mark Ingram JR 5-9/215/- Alabama Flint, MI
RB 2 Mikel Leshoure JR 6-0/227/- Illinois Champaign, IL
RB 3 Ryan Williams SO 5-9/212/- Virginia Tech Manassas, VA
RB 4 Daniel Thomas SR 6-0/230/- Kansas State Hilliard, FL
RB 5 Kendall Hunter SR 5-7/199/- Oklahoma State Tyler, TX

Some rate Leshoure above Ingram, but they are all solid

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Apr 9, 2011 5:46 PM EDT reply actions