:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54123587/622868260.0.jpg)
Each NFL team gets the opportunity to work out local prospects, and the Falcons are no exception. Chances are good the Falcons will wind up adding one or two to their crop of undrafted free agents.
Hat tip to D. Orlando Ledbetter, who assembled a full list of the prospects on hand for the Falcons on Wednesday. You’ll find that list below, but please go give his article a click.
QB Justin Holman, Central Florida
QB Nick Schuessler, Clemson
QB Kyle Sloter, Northern Colorado
RB Marcus Cox, Appalachian State
RB Derrick Craine, Tennessee-Chattanooga
RB Morris, George; Syracuse
RB Justin Thomas, Georgia Tech
RB Boom Williams, Kentucky
RB Myles Willis, Boston College
WR Anthony Autry, Texas A&M-Kingsville
WR Reggie Davis, Georgia
WR Robert Davis Georgia State
WR Isaiah Mackenzie, Georgia
WR Jordan Reid, Ohio
WR Garrett Scantling, Georgia
WR Jalen Williams, Massachusetts
TE Barrett Burns, Appalachian State
TE Jason Croom, Tennessee
OG Corey Levin, Tennessee-Chattanooga
OG Greg Pyke, Georgia
OT Tyler Catalina, Georgia
OT Jamal Covington, UNC-Charlotte
OT Taylor Gadbois, Southeastern Louisiana
OT Tony Garcia, Troy
OT Brandon Greene, Alabama
OT Eric Smith, Virginia
DE Mikey Bart, North Carolina
DE Chris Hale, Middle Tennessee St.
DE Francis Kallon, Georgia Tech
DE Shawayne Lawrence, Georgia State
DE Isaac Rochell, Notre Dame
DT Kelsey Griffin, South Carolina
DT Dalvin Tomlinson, Alabama
OLB Darius English, South Carolina
OLB Andrew Everett, Georgia State
OLB J’terius Jones, Miami-Ohio
OLB Ryan Watson, Air Force
ILB/FB P.J. Davis, Georgia Tech
ILB T.J. Holloman, South Carolina
FS Martez Hester, Ball State
FS Quincy Mauger, Georgia
SS Chaz Elder, South Carolina
SS Alex Gray, Appalachian State
SS Donald Payne, Stetson
SS Aaron Taylor, Ball State
SS Jeremy Tyler, West Virginia
CB Bobby Baker, Georgia State
CB Dante Blackmon, Kennesaw State
CB Ray Buchanan Jr., Northern Iowa
CB Jay Jones, Iowa State
CB Maurice Smith, Georgia
Names to watch? Here are a few.
- Ray Buchanan Jr., whose dad was a very good Falcon for a while, and who deserves a cup of coffee this spring and summer for nostalgia alone.
- Chaz Elder, a 6’2” safety who is pretty fast and physical, even if his game doesn’t suggest a ton of upside.
- Barrett Burns. The team spent some time working with him after the local pro day, reportedly, and they’re almost certainly going to use a pick on another tight end with Jacob Tamme departing.
- I would watch Schuessler, a lightly-used backup at Clemson behind the terrific Deshaun Watson, as an undrafted free agent option for Atlanta. The Falcons will almost certainly have Matt Schaub backing up Matt Ryan this season, but all bets are off after this year, and the team would be wise at some point to find a young, cheap backup to groom for the twilight years of Ryan’s career. Schuessler is an athletic, accurate passer who might turn into that decent backup if given enough time.
- Ryan Watson is a Conyers native who can play a little linebacker and defensive end, has an excellent reputation as an intelligent, productive player, and could be had either very late in the draft or as an UDFA. If the team thinks he can play special teams, he’s a sneaky pick to be their seventh rounder and fifth linebacker this upcoming season.