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The Atlanta Falcons are widely expected to choose one of four or five players if they stay at #6 in the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft, with Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack, Anthony Barr, Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews the most popular choices for many. The latest mock draft from Mocking The Draft's Dan Kadar doesn't buck that trend.
With the #6 pick, Kadar has the Falcons picking Khalil Mack, the man Mike Mayock has called the #1 player in this draft class. Here's what Kadar wrote:
6. Atlanta Falcons - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo - Don't expect the Falcons to be picking sixth in the draft. But in a mock draft where no trades are involved, it's difficult to pinpoint what the Falcons may do if Robinson and Clowney are gone. If that's the case, they may be choosing between Mack and offensive tackle Jake Matthews. Mack is the choice because he would add versatility to the defense. He can drop back in coverage, play the run and blitz the quarterback from the linebacker or defensive end positions.
The reason why Mack is such a popular pick is obvious, and Kadar hits on it above. It's Mack's versatility, his ability to do everything reasonably well and potentially switch freely between defensive end and linebacker. In Mike Nolan's hybrid fronts, Mack would be a terrific Swiss Army Knife with the potential to be a truly elite player. The concerns, in no particular order, are level of competition, the tendency to wash out against quality tackles and some vague noise about his attitude at Buffalo.
If the Falcons stand pat at #6, this feels like the likeliest pick for me. How about you?