Mocking the Draft mocks Vic Beasley to the Falcons

Mocking the Draft's most recent mock draft has the Falcons addressing their most glaring need with the eighth overall pick by selecting DE/OLB Vic Beasley out of Clemson University. Dan Kadar of Mocking the Draft cites Beasley's initial burst as his most appealing trait and says that Beasley can fill the Bruce Irvin role in the Falcons defense for new head coach Dan Quinn.

The knocks on Beasley seem to primarily be related to his size. He has some difficulty setting the edge because he's on the small side, weighing in at 220 pounds last season at Clemson. He has a lean frame and is unlikely to bulk up significantly and maintain functional speed. He has difficulty against blockers when he doesn't maintain leverage. However, he can get after the quarterback very effectively and create a ton of pressure, and that's something that Atlanta's defense desperately needs.

Elsewhere in the NFC South, Kadar has the Bucs taking quarterback Jameis Winston out of Florida State, the Saints bringing in defensive end Shane Ray from Missouri and the Panthers selecting offensive tackle Andrus Peat out of Stanford.

You can read up on Beasley in this scouting report from our own Jake Bennett.

What are your thoughts on the Falcons selecting Vic Beasley?