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With mock draft season still going strong, it’s always fascinating when someone rolls up their sleeves and does one that reflects predictions for all seven rounds.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic has compiled a mock for all available picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, and it’s exactly what you’d expect: a lot of names and numbers and prognostication, including a DT pick that looks a little less likely after the Falcons signed Tyeler Davison.
We’ve tallied all of his picks for Atlanta, which you can see below.
- First round, Clemson DT Christian Wilkins
- Second round, Florida DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
- Third round, Charlotte G/C Nate Davis
- Fourth round, Notre Dame LB Drue Tranquill
- Fourth round, Clemson DE Austin Bryant
- Fifth round, Oklahoma RB Rodney Anderson
- Fifth round, San Diego State T Tyler Roemer
- Sixth round, Washington CB Jordan Miller
- Seventh round, Washington State QB Gardner Minshew
Here’s his reasoning for the Wilkins pick:
Atlanta certainly has talent on its defensive line depth chart, but not enough production. Wilkins will help change that with his ability to split gaps and make plays in the backfield. He also provides insurance if Grady Jarrett (currently on the franchise tag) and the Falcons can’t agree on a long-term deal.
Wilkins seems to be one of the safer picks in this year’s draft cycle, if not one of the most exciting. He lacks the tantalizing potential of an Ed Oliver or a Quinnen Williams, but lacks the floor that would make you regret taking him early. If the Falcons went this direction, chances are they’d be mothballing Senat quite a bit next year and/or having Grady Jarrett and Jack Crawford dabble at end a bit.
Really, if the Falcons walked away with him with pick 14, it’d be a very sound pick and give Atlanta a formidable quintet of defensive tackles. It just wouldn’t, perhaps, make a lot of social media fireworks go off, and it would solve more problems in 2020 than 2019.
The rest of the draft is very solid, with the team adding young depth to its secondary, offensive line, defensive edge group and running back lineup. They also add Minshew to the quarterback room to compete with Kurt Benkert for a spot as the Young Developmental Quarterback (TM).
Obviously, this isn’t how it’s going to go, but it’s a neat snapshot for how it could go once the draft gets underway here in two weeks or so. The Falcons have every opportunity this draft to really supplant the depth on its roster and add some needed playmakers to the roster. Let’s hope it does go something like Brugler put together.