Falcons select Shaq Lawson in 2016 SB Nation mock draft

As is my annual custom, I drafted for the Falcons in SB Nation's mock draft, trying to land the player I felt would be the best fit for Atlanta. I haven't always been successful at doing so, but I feel really good about my choice this time around.

Why Lawson? You can read my full reasoning over at Mocking The Draft, but in essence, I think Lawson can be a supremely productive defensive end in Dan Quinn's scheme, both as a pass rusher and an edge setter versus the run. He's a powerful, intelligent player, and adding him would give the Falcons a potentially dominant front featuring a mix of players like Vic Beasley, Derrick Shelby, Grady Jarrett, and Ra'Shede Hageman. I think the Falcons would feel great about their front after that, and they have some intriguing pieces in the secondary, so they could afford to fully focus on linebacker in the years ahead.

You could have made a nice case for Darron Lee here, and I consider him a very likely pick. I'm also a fan of Reggie Ragland, who was still on the board, while I'm sure some of you will stump hard for Kevin Dodd, Lawson's Clemson battery mate. Me, I like Lawson.

Here's Mocking The Draft guru Dan Kadar on the selection:

Analysis: When this mock was playing out behind the scenes, my choice would have been between Lawson and Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee. But considering Atlanta's issues getting after the quarterback, Lawson makes sense.

Head to the page to vote on the pick and browse through all the other selections thus far.

In case you're wondering, here's who I took for the Falcons in years past. It is a mixed bag.

2015: DE Randy Gregory | CB/S Eric Rowe
2014: LB Khalil Mack | T Morgan Moses
2013: DE Tank Carradine | CB David Amerson
2012: RB David Wilson
2011: DE/LB Justin Houston | T Marcus Gilbert
2010: LB Sean Weatherspoon
2009: ILB James Laurinitis | S Michael Hamlin
2008: T Jake Long | QB Joe Flacco | DT Kentwan Balmer | CB Tracy Porter | RB Tony Hunt