Falcons land guard Dorian Johnson in the second round of the SB Nation writers’ mock draft

The second round selection for the Atlanta Falcons is here! After I took Derek Rivers in the first round of the draft, hopefully bolstering the pass rush, I turned my focus to the other side of the ball.

Ultimately, I came away with Pittsburgh guard Dorian Johnson, a favorite of mine. I think he’s solid enough fundamentally to immediately step in as a starter at right guard, and I think he could stay there for a long, long time.

Here’s what SB Nation draft guru Dan Kadar had to say about my pick.

Analysis: If Choate is at the front of Dorian Johnson fanboy line, I’m right behind him. Although I don’t rate him incredibly high, I think he’s an immediate starter at the next level. For a good team, I’m more in favor of filling holes early than taking the best player available. Johnson would slot into the starting lineup straight away and help bolster Atlanta’s blocking.

Pretty good endorsement! You can read my full writeup over at the pick link.

This may not be how things go down in real life—and they won’t be the way things go down in my own seven round mock coming tomorrow—but I’d be pretty thrilled to get Rivers and Johnson in this class. Cross your fingers for the kind of results that address major team needs with very good players, if you would.

Here’s my mock draft history for SB Nation, in case you forgot.

2016: DE Shaq Lawson | S Keanu Neal

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