Georgia’s Deandre Baker, Mecole Hardman, Natrez Patrick, Riley Ridley invited to Falcons’ local pro day

The Atlanta Falcons are hosting their local pro day Friday, and two big Georgia names will be in attendance.

The Athletic’s Jason Butt shared that two Bulldogs draft prospects will be with the team at week’s end.

Deandre Baker and Mecole Hardman were integral parts of the 2018 Georgia who just fell short of a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Baker projects to the first round as a corner and, if drafted, would have the in-line to the nickel corner spot.

Hardman, who Butt says the team has taken a liking to, would factor in as a depth receiver and competition for the returning jobs with the Falcons. He’s expected to go somewhere around the fourth and fifth rounds.

Baker doesn’t feel all that likely, but it’s good for the team to do its due diligence of the first round corners, since the value will be quite high on the position at pick 14. It’s not all that impossible for the team to angle for one of the draft’s premiere secondary players where they stand if all the top line prospects they like go earlier.

As for Hardman, it’s a distinct possibility. The team has no shortage of mid-round picks this cycle, and they very much could use additional depth at receiver. He could also be a fascinating option for the returning game, where new signee Kenjon Barner seems to be the only viable option on the roster at the moment.

The Falcoholic’s Jeanna Thomas has also learned that Georgia ILB Natrez Patrick and Kennesaw State WR Justin Sumpter will be in attendance for the day as well.

Patrick projects as a late pick or undrafted free agent and leaves behind a key role on the Bulldogs’ vaunted defense.

We’ll see if Baker, Hardman and Patrick wind up with the Falcons after Friday’s evaluation day.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC has additional names attending, too: Georgia WR Riley Ridley (Calvin Ridley’s brother), Auburn WR Darius Slayton, Georgia Tech RB Clinton Lynch and DL Desmond Branch, Mississippi CB Ken Webster, TCU S Ridwan Issahaku, South Carolina LB Bryson Allen-Williams, West Georgia WR Shannon Smith, NC Central S Davanta Reynolds,, Marshall RB Keion Davis, and Western Carolina P Ian Berryman.