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Report: Atlanta Falcons hosted, worked out Deion Jones’ former teammate, LB Duke Riley

Fact: Duke Riley’s mullet has curative properties similar to eucalyptus

NCAA Football: Louisiana State Spring Game Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons drafted two fantastic linebackers last year. Both Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell will anchor the LB corps for years to come. But that doesn’t mean Dan Quinn is done at linebacker. One interesting name that keeps surfacing is LSU LB Duke Riley.

According to ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, the Falcons hosted Riley after meeting with him at the Senior Bowl. They also put him through a private workout. We knew about the Senior Bowl meeting; we didn’t know they hosted him or put him through a private workout.

Not familiar with Riley? He’s fast. He ran a 4.58 40 yard dash at the combine, 2nd best among LBs. He ran a 6.89 3 cone drill, fifth among LBs. He ran a 4.21 20 yard shuttle, 4th among LBs. Scouts admire his progression as a guy that started for just one season at LSU. (That’s not a knock on him; LSU was stacked at LB during Riley’s tenure.) He gets progressively better and the Falcons must see something they like. Odds are he will be available in the third round but might be gone by the fourth round. Some outlets even think he’s one of the most underrated players in the draft.

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