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2017 NFL Draft: Falcons work out a raft of prospects at local pro day

It’s a long list.

Auburn v Georgia Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images

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.