[protected-iframe id="33ed9cde81d417f29a983dc9b741c33d-58441833-57875119" info="http://cinesport.ajc.com/inline/3471616228001/#nolink;" width="600" height="364" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"] Each morning, from now until the draft starts on May 8, we’ll do a short profile of a player who’s on the Falcons' Draft Board. We’ll focus on team-needs, possible selections, players the Falcons have worked out and/or interviewed, etc. The Falcons own 10 picks in this draft. Today we’ll look at Buffalo LB Khalil Mack, who's set to visit Flowery Branch on Wednesday.
Player: Khalil Mack
Position: Outside linebacker
School: Buffalo
Height and weight: 6-3, 251
Combine numbers: 4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash (4.55 at his Pro Day); 23 reps on the
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
225-pound bench press; 40-inch vertical; 10-8 broad jump, 4.18 in short shuttle and 7.08 in the three-cone drill.
Projected Round: He's the top-rated outside linebacker in the draft and projected to be selected in the first round by NFLDraftScout.com.
Career Highlights: Mack, who was considered a two-star recruit coming out of Fort Pierce (Fla.) Westwood, had only one scholarship offer. …to Buffalo. "The next tape that I put in was Kent State and he made a one-handed interception," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. "He runs like a safety. He explodes off the edge. From my perspective, in today's NFL, guys who have natural edge-rush ability are like gold. "You have to get them when they are available. I think he's one of the elite edge guys in the draft. He hustles. He's tough and he can play the run game. Unlike a lot of these guys, he can also drop in coverage. I have yet to find a hole in his game."
Quotes: "(Against Ohio State) I got a lot of single blocks and it just so happened I played off of a cut-block and got an interception. So, there were a lot of things that played into my favor in that game. Hard work does pay off. I feel it was, sort of, a little disrespect from a schematic approach. But, at the same time I wanted to make them pay for it. ...I have good feet and good hands. Really, I feel I've shown all I could on film."
Falcons level on interest: Very high. With most of the quarterback group slipping out of the top 10, Mack may not be available with the Falcons pick with the sixth overall pick. Mack's pass-rushing ability, his stoutness against the run and the ability to drop in coverage intrigues the team.
FALCONS' DRAFT BOARD
--A look at Louisville LB Preston Brown
--A look at Iowa TE C.J. Fiedorowicz
--A look at West Virginia RB Charles Sims
--A look at Auburn DE Dee Ford
--A look at Brigham Young OLB Kyle Van Noy
--A look at Arizona State OLB/DE Carl Bradford
--A look at Missouri DE Kony Ealy
--A look at Texas Tech TE Jace Amaro
--A look at Alabama S Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix
--A look at Minnesota DT Ra'Shede Hageman
--BLOG: A list of the confirmed players at LOCALS DAY on Tuesday
--BLOG: FSU linebacker Telvin Smith visited the Falcons on Monday
--Falcons check out Towson State RB Terrance West, CB Jordan Love (UGA transfer)
--MyAJC ($): Eye-test vs. Tape-measure test: Falcons must trust their eyes during draft prep.
FALCONS REWIND
--Blog: Falcons are not switching to a 3-4 defense front, they've been using it for past 2 seasons
--Blog: New jersey numbers picked; Devin Hester to wear No. 17
--Blog: Falcons awarded three compensatory picks
--Blog: Lamar Holmes was a performance-pay leader in 2014
--Blog: Umenyiora will return in 2014, no restructured deal
--Blog: Falcons release FB Bradie Ewing
--Blog: Falcons WR Roddy White owes Mercer fan some prime tickets
--Blog: Falcons owner Arthur Blank engaged to be married.
--Blog: Former Falcons WR Kevin Cone to work out for Carolina
--Blog: Falcons re-sign defensive tackle Peria Jerry
--Blog: NFL to move forward on cleaning up 'on-field' language
--MyAJC ($): Falcons spend $80 million in free agency to buy toughness
--Las Vegas doesn't like Falcons' free agency moves
--Falcons Free Agency Tracker -- Falcons have committed $107.36 million to salaries
--Q&A with PR/KR/WR Devin Hester
--Q&A with Falcons right guard Jon Asamoah
--Q&A with Falcons defensive end Tyson Jackson
--Q&A with Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai
2014 NFL DRAFT CENTRAL
--Mock Draft 1.0: Falcons trade out of sixth spot to land Pryor and Ebron
--12 teams who could draft UGA star Aaron Murray
--Louisville LB Preston Brown to work out for the Falcons
--Louisville DE Marcus Smith to work out for the Falcons
--MyAJC ($): OT Greg Robinson, DE Dee Ford shine at Auburn's Pro Day
--VIDEO: Tackle Greg Robinson on Auburn's Pro Day
--VIDEO: Running back Tra Mason on Auburn's Pro Day
--Blog & VIDEO: Clemson QB Tajh Boyd has stellar Pro Day showing
--VIDEO: Clemson WR Sammy Watkins on his Pro Day
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