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Falcons Draft Results: Atlanta Makes OLB Tyler Starr The Last Pick

The Falcons wind up with two intriguing linebacker prospects late.

Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons have drafted linebacker Tyler Starr with their last pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

If Yawin Smallwood is a bit of a limited athlete who survives on physicality and intelligent reads of the offense, Starr is a fluid athlete who needs work in other areas. He changes direction quickly, comes off the edge with truly surprising speed and could actually develop into an effective rotational pass rusher. He's also a very instinctual linebacker.

The biggest problem for Starr is that despite that speed and overall athleticism, he is not strong. There's little question he'll have to hit the weight room to improve both upper and lower body strength, because he can be taken out of plays and tangled up too easily. As a seventh rounder, he'll likely join Smallwood as a special teamer, but keep your eye on him. There may be something here.

The Falcons clearly believe they can upgrade at linebacker, if the four picks they sank into the linebacking corps tells us anything.

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