2014 NFL Draft Results: Falcons Draft Linebacker Yawin Smallwood

The Atlanta Falcons select Yawin Smallwood  with pick #255 in the 2014 NFL Draft.

While the Falcons gambled on athleticism and upside all throughout the draft, they're going in a different direction with Smallwood. The UConn linebacker with the great name is an intelligent, instinctive linebacker who probably fits best as inside linebacker at the NFL level. He also is not a great athlete and someone who needs help with his tackling form, but he was productive in college and has a nose for the run. On balance, when you consider his athletic limitations, it's not surprising he fell, though I'm surprised how far.

Smallwood joins this team as a special teamer in his rookie season. If he works on his consistency, the Falcons likely see him as an inside linebacker over the long-term, with a chance to start despite his slow foot speed. As I said, he's an instinctual player, and that will serve him well inside.

here's a good chance he tops out as nothing more than a useful reserve, but for late seventh round picks, useful reserve is at least a double into the gap.

Plus he has my favorite name in this draft class. It's like Dimitroff wanted me to be happy.

What do you think of the pick?