FLOWERY BRANCH — With a record number of underclassmen declared for the NFL draft, the Falcons, who do not have a first-round pick, hope to unearth a gem with the 55th pick in the draft.
With 65 early entrants, the talent pool is bigger (the previous record was 56 last year), and some players who would have been first-round picks will be pushed into the second round of the draft, which will be held Thursday through Saturday in New York.
The Falcons’ first-round pick was traded to Cleveland last year as part of the trade that landed wide receiver Julio Jones.
Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill and Georgia tight end Orson Charles are in the group of underclassmen.
Hill was advised to stay in school because he didn’t have the potential to be drafted in the first three rounds. He elected to leave school anyway and dazzled scouts at the NFL scouting combine with his speed and leaping ability. He now is projected to go in the first round.
Charles, after running a slow 40-yard dash and getting charged with driving under the influence, is not projected to be selected in the first round. If there is a run on tight ends, he could get drafted before the Falcons pick and push down another player in the draft.
NFL teams are challenged by the high number of early entrants because they cannot speak to them during the season when they are visiting the college campuses. They have to activate their files after the season and start feverishly researching their ability and character.
“We all have to be mindful of the potential players that will declare,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “That is done more from a standpoint of making sure your research is done from a film evaluation standpoint.”
The record number of entrants wasn’t expected because the league went to a new rookie salary wage-scale last season.
“Because there are more and more underclassmen coming out as the years go on, it’s that much more important for our organization to make sure they are researched and well thought out going into the season,” Dimitroff said.
Dimitroff said that protecting quarterback Matt Ryan is a major concern for the franchise after he was sacked 26 times and hit 84 times — seventh-most in the league — last season.
Several draft analysts expect the Falcons to select the biggest and meanest offensive linemen available with their top pick. They also could select a defensive lineman.
Some of the offensive-line candidates include California tackle Mitchell Schwartz (6-foot-5 1/2, 320 pounds), Iowa State tackle Kelechi Osemele (6-5, 333), Midwestern State guard Amini Silatolu (6-4, 311) or Miami (Ohio) guard Brandon Brooks (6-5, 346).
“The key to acquiring offensive linemen in today’s world is versatility,” Dimitroff said. “If you can get a tackle that can play both tackles and possibly swing to guard it is a very, very important thing.”
Schwartz started 51 consecutive games, 35 at left tackle and 16 at right tackle. He earned Cal’s most valuable offensive lineman award three consecutive seasons.
The Falcons have to determine whether they think Silatolu can jump from Division II to the NFL. Glenn Thomas, the Falcons’ new quarterbacks coach, coached at Midwestern State from 2001-07 and still has contacts at the Texas school.
“It’s hard not to get excited about him,” Pro Football Weekly draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki said. “That’s has been the most enjoyable evaluation of this draft class, just watching the vinegar and nastiness.”
The Falcons also scouted Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman and Clemson nose tackle Brandon Thompson and defensive end Andre Branch.
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