FanPost

Mock Offseason 3.0

I'm back again with an updated mock offseason. After a tough, tough loss in the NFC title game, its time to look at what we can do this offseason to get over the hump. I made quite a few changes to the draft, roster departures, and key re-signings sections. As always, let me know what you think. A link to the previous mocks are below:

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/12/3/3725036/mock-offseason-1-0

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2012/12/25/3803398/mock-offseason-2-0

Key Departures:

  1. Brent Grimes: A CB needy team will show him more money than ATL
  2. Will Svitek: Holmes will replace him as swing tackle
  3. Michael Turner: He's expensive and on the wrong side of 30
  4. Todd McClure: Its time for Mud Duck to ride off into the sunset
  5. Tony Gonzalez: Retired

Other Departures:

Mike Peterson, Lawrence Sidbury, Dominique Franks, Mike Cox, Peria Jerry, Tommy Gallarda, Luke McCown, Robert James, Chris Hope, Antone Smith, Kevin Cone, Chris Owens

Key re-signings:

  1. William Moore: Pay the man
  2. Vance Walker: Swagger Vance simply has to be re-signed
  3. Robert McClain: He's young & has been a nice addition to the team
  4. Garrett Reynolds: He was having a great year before his injury. Once he left, Matt Ryan was no longer an MVP candidate. Coincidence? I think not.
  5. Sam Baker: T-Rex earned himself a new contract

Free Agency additions

1. Jared Cook TE: He wants out of Tennessee but there is always the chance the Titans could franchise him. They have a big option with CJ2K they plan to pick up so I think Cook will get a chance to test the market. Cook is one of the most athletically gifted TE’s in the NFL and he can stretch defenses vertically. Having Matt Ryan at QB will take his career to a new level. His rotator cuff injury could make him a bit cheaper. (signs a 5 yr $20 mil contract)

2. Rolando McClain LB: The former #8 overall pick in 2010 has had several character issues and Oakland has essentially said he'll be cut. Teams will show interest in him because he is only 23 and still has great potential. In 2011, he rated as Football Outsider's #1 LB in "stop rate" versus the pass. Stop rate measures how often a defender keeps an offense from converting a pass play. Both Spoon and Nicholas missed time in 2012 due to injuries so LB depth is a must. Any team will most likely offer him a 1 yr "prove it" deal. Oakland is a hot mess from top to bottom, so maybe a rock solid franchise like ATL will help him realize his potential. (signs a 1 yr prove it deal)

2013 NFL Draft

1st round Margus Hunt DE SMU: He 's raw but is explosive and has tremendous upside. Abe still has at least one more decent season in him so Hunt can be eased into the DL rotation. He's currently projected as a early second rounder so selecting him late in the 1st round is not a reach.

2nd round Brandon Jenkins DE Florida State: That's right, we will double dip at DE and snag another explosive edge rusher. We all love Biermann's motor and effort, but he will always be just a 4-5 sack guy. Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine got all of the attention at FSU, but Jenkins was the MVP of the DEF before his foot injury. He is a sack machine and can play 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB. He will be fully healed in time for the combine.

3rd round Leon McFadden CB San Diego State: The fact that we share the same 1st name has absolutely nothing to do with this selection. Well, maybe it does, but McFadden is the real deal. He is a great cover corner with athleticism and ball hawking skills. He could be groomed into a future starter.

4th round Kwame Geathers DT Georgia: A massive defensive tackle who has shown good run stuffing skills.

4th round Tavarres King WR Georgia: He's a big, fast WR who has played in a pro style offense at UGA. After HD, we could use more depth. (compensatory pick for Curtis Lofton)

5th round Oscar Johnson OT Louisiana Tech : He's a big, hulking tackle (6'6 333lbs) who was a 2nd team All WAC selection at left tackle. He has great strength and shows tremendous power on blocks. He also has experience at OG. He could be groomed to take over for Clabo or Blalock. Like Holmes, he'll need some grooming but has good upside.

6th round Cierre Wood RB Notre Dame: He's a big back (6'0 220 lbs) and has break away speed. He's also a great receiver out of the backfield. He averaged nearly 7 yds per carry this season and has good vision, lateral agility, and cutback ability. He was suspended for 2 games for an undisclosed transgression so he may have some character issues. He could be a steal in the 6th round to pair with Quizz and Snelling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zXLtapGqZ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRHEG5I3X20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1bn6NcZK_Q

7th round Colton Chapple QB Harvard: I really like this kid the more I study up on him. He's a dual threat QB who threw for 2500 yds and 24 TD's while rushing for 600 yds and 9TD's in 2012. He's very accurate and completed nearly 70% of his passes this season. He's also an Atlanta native...go figure. His 2012 season earned him Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year honors. Luke McCown could be gone so Chapple could take over as QB3.


<em>This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.</em>