Atlanta Falcons 2015 Mock Draft: A New Era Begins

Round 1 - Pick 8: DE/OLB Dante Fowler, Florida

For years the masses of Atlanta have screamed at their television sets and and beat computer desks due to the frustration of a laughable pass rush. No more.

Don't let the sack numbers fool you; this kid is havoc as an edge rusher. Fowler has as much upside as any player in the 2015 draft class, and would bring versatility to a Falcons defense that needs all the help it can get.

Fowler is raw, and the fact that he had 17 quarterback hurries and 8.5 sacks as an unpolished prospect makes me even more excited to see what he can do as a well-coached professional.

Round 2 - Pick 10: ILB Denzel Perryman, Miami

Paul Worrilow is a great player for his undrafted status, don't get me wrong, but the Falcons could improve the center of their defense with a blue-collar linebacker from the U.

Perryman, despite being somewhere near the 5'11" range, is exactly the type of player you want leading your defense at MLB. He can lay the wood, but also wrap up fundamentally and diagnose plays before they happen. He has an extremely high football I.Q., and will rarely be found out of place.

Not to mention, he was a pretty sound pass defender in college. Perryman is a first round talent trapped in a smaller frame.

Round 3 - Pick 9: WR Ty Montgomery, Stanford

Atlanta needs a serious influx of talent in the wide receiving corps. Roddy White (33), Harry Douglas (30), and Devin Hester (32) aren't getting any younger. If Julio were to go down again, who steps up as a legitimate No.1?

That's where Ty comes in; a player who has 1st round talent, experience, and speed, but has yet to put it all together.

At 6' and 215 pounds, this is someone who could be a true complement to Julio in the future.

Round 4 - Pick 8: OG Ali Marpet, Hobart

Justin Blalock will begin to rapidly decline sooner rather than later, and doesn't exactly fit the zone blocking scheme that newly hired offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan likes to run.

Marpet is a leaner, more athletic offensive lineman that fits much better in the Falcons new blocking scheme, and can play multiple positions along the line if needed to.

The fact that he came from a smaller school will raise some questions, and allowing Atlanta to potentially snag him here in the 4th.

Round 5 - Pick 10: CB Nick Marshall, Auburn

With Robert McClain, Javier Arenas, and Josh Wilson all set to hit free agency, the Falcons could possibly lose all nickel corners in one offseason. It's not likely that all slip away, but a talented prospect is needed to fill one of the spots left empty.

Marshall is a quarterback who has a much better skill-set for a defensive back in the NFL. Undoubtedly, he has a bit of an advantage over most corners with his understanding of offensive schemes, which should help his transition to CB much easier.

He's 6'2', 205 pounds, and plays fluid and extremely aggressive. If all goes well, Marshall could be starting on the outside, allowing Alford to slide into the slot.

Round 6 - Pick 9: RB/FB Synjyn Days, Georgia Tech

It's never a bad decision to draft late round skill players who have the potential to boom in the right environment.

Days, a Marietta native, ended 2014 with 924 yards and 9 touchdowns on 157 carries. He's a massive back at 6'2" and 231 pounds, and boasts a similar frame to current Falcon running back Steven Jackson.

Days is a player who should definitely be higher on people's boards, and his lack of wear and tear could lead to a longer career in the NFL.

Round 7 - Pick 8: CB Justin Coleman, Tennessee

Like I said earlier, Atlanta has three corners set to hit free agency this spring. There isn't much pressure to resign any of them, as none really showed they deserved long term contracts.

As a Vols fan, I watched Coleman become a solid No.2 corner for the Volunteers, and show the talent of a competent NFL slot corner. Atlanta could have a pretty good pick-up here.

Round 7 - Pick 31: OT Chaz Green, Florida

While the Falcons may already have their starting tackle tandem with Matthews and Schraeder, it wouldn't hurt to add a late rounder who could battle for a roster spot as the future swing tackle.

Green has experience at both right and left tackle. He suffered a torn labrum in 2013, but came back in 2014 with a solid season.

Dante Fowler thinks highly of Green, as the two frequently faced off against eachother in college practices. It would be fun to pair the two up in the same Falcon draft class.

There you have it. As stock rises/falls, and opinions change, more mock drafts will come in the future. This is the first of the off-season from me, so be sure to criticize and voice your opinion in the comments below.