[protected-iframe id="9d6a581d1b5ef63a42878e9b69be0b15-58441833-57875119" info="http://cinesport.ajc.com/inline/3520023690001/#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 Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert, who recently visited the Falcons at their Flowery Branch offices.
Player: Justin Gilbert
Position: Cornerback
School: Oklahoma State
Height and weight: 6-0, 201 pounds
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Combine Numbers: He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, had a vertical of 35.5, had the broad jump of 10 feet, 6 inches, lifted 225 pounds 20 times, ran the three-cone drill in 6.92 seconds and shuttle time of 4.39.
Projected Round: He's the first rated cornerback in the draft and is projected to be selected in the first by NFLDraftScout.com.
Career Highlights: He was a Jim Thorpe Award finalist last season. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns last season. He's also a dangerous returner. In 2011, he had interceptions against future top 10 draft picks in Stanford's Andrew Luck, Baylor's Robert Griffin III and Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill.
Quotes: "Dedication to the game and the work that I put in (makes me the top cornerback in the draft.) My transition coming out of my breaks and backpedaling was key. I was a terrible backpedaller, especially when I first got there because I was a quarterback in high school. (Playing) defensive back was new to me. I had to become a good back-pedaller and be more fluid with my hips."
Falcons level on interest: Low. The Falcons spent their top two picks on cornerbacks last season and Gilbert would be a luxury item.
Here are the Falcons draft picks:
- Round 1 — No. 6 overall
- Round 2 – No. 37 overall
- Round 3 – No. 68 overall
- Round 4 – No. 103 overall
- Round 4 – No. 139 overall (compensatory)
- Round 5 – No. 147 overall
- Round 6 – No. 182 overall
- Round 7 – No. 220 overall
- Round 7 – No. 253 overall (compensatory)
- Round 7 – No. 255 overall (compensatory)
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
--A look at Boston College QB Chase Rettig
--A look at Oregon RB De'Anthony Thomas
--A look at Central Florida RB Storm Johnson
--A look at USC TE Xavier Grimble
--A look at Ohio State OT Jack Mewhort
--A look at Louisville S Calvin Prior
--A look at Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier
--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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