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One way to get a sense of which players Atlanta is considering in the 2014 NFL Draft is to consider which players the team has reportedly met with or scheduled private workouts with in the weeks leading up to the draft. Hat tip to Walter Football and Redditor Mr. Kumbi in particular, who has painstakingly put together a very thorough list. Here's the complete list, with position rankings from SB Nation's Mocking the Draft.
If you're breaking it down by position, it's pretty easy to see that the Falcons are focusing on offensive linemen and outside linebacker pass rushing types as the draft approaches. It's nice to see a couple of safeties added to the list, as that is clearly a position of need at the moment for Atlanta.
There are two quarterbacks on the list, and both are expected to be available as college free agents following the draft. No surprise here--if anything, the Falcons are exploring their options for someone to lock in as Matt Ryan's backup. It is interesting, however, that Chase Rettig from Ryan's alma matter, Boston College, is one of the players on Atlanta's radar. Current backup Dominique Davis was Ryan's backup at Boston College during the 2007 season. The Falcons must love Boston College quarterbacks.
If the Falcons plan to draft a tight end, Iowa's C.J. Fiedorowicz would be a great possibility. Fiedorowicz is projected to go in the third or fourth round, and he's really athletic and has good speed for his size. He's a consistent receiver.
Stanford free safety Ed Reynolds is also a projected third or fourth round pick, and could be a viable option at free safety. He's very aggressive, which does lead to some penalties and also getting burned on occasion, but he has the size to effectively cover tight ends and the speed to provide adequate help over the top. I would still prefer to see Atlanta bring in somebody like Rafael Bush from New Orleans as the starter, but Reynolds is a decent safety option that wouldn't disrupt Atlanta's anticipated plans to shore up the pass rush and the offensive line in the first couple of rounds.
What do you think about the players Atlanta is taking a look at as draft day draws near? What players aren't on this list that you'd like to see the team pursue?