FLOWERY BRANCH –How did the Falcons re-structured front office do in the 2015 NFL draft?
The was the first draft that assistant general manager Scott Pioli was in charge over. He reported to general manager Thomas Dimitroff with major schematically input from head coach Dan Quinn and his coordinators.
Give your grades below!
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Vic Beasley, DE/OLB
Round: First. College: Clemson. Height: 6-3. Weight: 246. Hometown: Adairsville. High school: Adairsville. Age: 22.
Highlights: Clemson's all-time sack leader, Beasley had 37 tackles, a team-high 21.5 tackles for loss, a team-high 12 sacks, nine quarterback pressures, three pass breakups, two caused fumbles, one recovered fumble and a 16-yard fumble return for a touchdown in 557 snaps over 13 games (12 starts) last season. He was the ACC defensive player of the year, as voted on by the coaches and the media. He finished with 33 sacks in his career, which he started as a running back.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Jalen Collins, CB
Round: Second. College: LSU. Height: 6-1 1/2. Weight: 203. Hometown: Olive Branch, Miss. High school: Olive Branch, Miss. Age: 22.
Highlights: A big, physical cornerback with the size and tackling skills to perhaps play safety. He led the Tigers with nine pass breakups in 2014, despite starting only seven of 13 games as a fourth-year junior. Also had 38 tackles and an interception. After redshirting as a freshman in 2011, Collins started the first game the next season before transitioning to a reserve role. Said he has a 78 1/8-inch wingspan.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Tevin Coleman, RB
Round: Third. College: Indiana. Height: 5-11, 3/8. Weight: 206 lbs. Hometown: Tinley Park, Ill. High school: Oak Forest. Age: 22 Highlights: Cranked up his game from the middle of his sophomore season through his junior campaign, averaging 142.6 rushing yards per game over the final 21 games of his college career. Owns the IU single-season rushing record with 2,036 yards last fall, and he set the mark while going for 228 yards against eventual national champion Ohio State. Also rushed for 307 against Rutgers. Was one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, and second nationally in rushing in 2014 while averaging 169.7 yards per game. Also caught 25 passes as a junior. Rushed for 958 yards as a sophomore, missing three games with an ankle injury. As a freshman, he rushed for 225 yards, and led the team with a 23.6-yard average on kickoff returns, including one that went 96 yards for a touchdown.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Justin Hardy, WR
Round: Fourth. College: East Carolina. Height: 5-10, 1/4. Weight:192 lbs. Hometown: Vanceboro High school: West Craven. Age: 23 Highlights: He set the record for most career receptions in bowl subdivision history last season. Hardy played in 63 games for the Pirates and finished his career with 387 catches for 4,541 yards and 35 touchdowns. He broke the record against Tulane last season in a 34-6 victory. He moved pass the previous record of 349 set by Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles in 2011. Hardy had just one Division II scholarship offer in high school before ending up at East Carolina as a preferred walk-on. He had originally signed with Fayetteville State, but was given a release to walk-on at ECU. He spent his first year on the scout team before earning a scholarship a year later and quickly earning a lead role in the pass-heavy offense.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Grady Jarrett, DT
Round: Fifth. College: Clemson. Height: 6-0, 3/4. Weight: 304 lbs. Hometown: Conyers, Ga. High school: Rockdale County. Age: 22 Highlights: The son of former Falcons great Jessie Tuggle. He was a three-sport standout in high school and captured state titles in wrestling and the shot put. He wasa team co-captain. He was named third-team All-American by Athlon and first-team All-ACC by the media and the coaches. He had 73 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 12 quarterback pressures, two caused fumbles and one recovered fumble in 530 snaps over 13 games (13 starts). Comes off the ball low and has natural leverage.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Jake Rodgers, OG
Round: Seventh. College: Eastern Washington. Height: 6-6. Weight: 315 lbs. Hometown: Spokane, Wash. High School: Shadle Park. Highlights: Rodgers is athletic and could fit in a as a big buard. He was 250 pounds coming out of high school and was recruited as a tight end. He was moved to the line at Washington State. He red-shirted a and played for them in 2011. He started 12 games for the Cougars in 2012 at four different positions, but decided to leave the program. He transferred and missed half of the 2013 season with a knee injury. He returned in 2014 and started every game at right tackle and also played some at right guard.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Akeem King, S
Round: Seventh. College: San Jose St. Height: 6-1. Weight: 212. Hometown: Nipomo, Calif. High School: Nipomo. Age: 22. Highlights: Was his team's fourth-leading tackler with 71 stops (tops among defensive backs) with two pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for lost yardage while starting all 12 games. Was a reserve over his first three seasons. As a high schooler, he also lettered in basketball and track and field, setting the school record with a time of 10.74 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 DRAFT PICKS
First round: 8th overall selection -- Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Second round: 42nd overall selection -- Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
Third round: 73rd overall selection -- Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
Fourth round: 107th overall selection -- Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina
Fifth round: 137th overall selection -- Grady Jarrett, DT, Clemson
Sixth round: 185th overall selection -- TRADED TO VIKINGS
Seventh round: 225th overall selection -- Jake Rodgers, G. Eastern Washington
Seventh round: 249th overall selection* -- Akeem King, DB, San Jose State
*Pick is from New England through St. Louis
POSITION-BY-POSITION FOR 2015 NFL DRAFT
Wednesday: Top 5 Inside Linebackers
Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman ,
Thursday: Top 5 defensive tackles
(Leonard Williams' Rugby skill will become handy in the NFL)
Friday: Top 5 defensive backs
Alabama's Landon Collins is the top safety prospect
Saturday: Top 5 special teamers
Dorsett, Alford could be top returners
Sunday: Top 5 edge rushers (defensive ends/outside linebackers).
Big Chuck Smith breaks down the top pass-rush prospects
Monday: Top 5 Offensive line
Georgia Tech's Shaquille Mason trying to convert to center for NFL
Tuesday: Top 5 Wide receivers
Georgia's Chris Conley now projects as a fourth-rounder
Wednesday, April 22: Top 5 Running backs
Thursday, April 23: Top 5 Quarterbacks
NFL must handle Winston, Mariota with care. Both need seasoning
Friday, April 24: Top 5 Tight ends
South Carolina's Rory "Buster" Anderson hopes to get his NFL shot
ICYMI: Here's a link to last year's Position-by-Position series.
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