The Atlanta Falcons were sniffing around running back a lot in the pre-draft process, to the point where it seemed very possible they’d select one late. They’ve done exactly that, nabbing Wyoming’s Brian Hill with their second selection in the fifth round.

Hill will compete to be Atlanta’s third back in 2017—he’s not going to unseat Devonta Freeman or Tevin Coleman, obviously—but there’s some upside here. He’s a solid all-around back who has some value in pass protection out of the box, exhibits excellent ball security, and has a nice mix of size, speed, and power. He is not the shiftiest runner or the most instinctive one, which could cap his upside, but at the very least he should be a useful backup for this football team.

If the Falcons eventually end up parting ways with one of Freeman or Coleman, Hill could be the team’s top backup. For now, he’ll just look to get past Terron Ward and carve out a niche role for the season ahead.

Welcome to Atlanta, Brian Hill!

Falcons Selections

Round 1, #31: Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA

Round 3, #75: Duke Riley, LB, LSU

Round 4, #135: Sean Harlow, OL, Oregon State

Round 5, #149: Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State

Round 5, #156: Brian Hill, RB, Wyoming

Round 5, #175

Top Remaining Needs

1. Tackle
2. Tight End
3. Defensive Tackle