Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff arrived at his seventh NFL combine in his current job with a reputation for aggressively making trades to help shape the team’s roster.
In 2008, 2011 and 2013, Dimitroff traded up in the first round in order to secure Sam Baker, Julio Jones and Desmond Trufant.
Dimitroff and his scouts are on a fact-finding mission at the combine, which runs through Tuesday, in part to determine if they want to move up to select South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney or keep the No. 6 pick and aim for the multitalented Khalil Mack, a linebacker from Buffalo.
“They need to get an edge guy at six if they can,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “Then, go get the (offensive) tackle later.”
If the Falcons don’t go for defense, they can consider offensive tackles Greg Robinson (Auburn), Taylor Lewan (Michigan) and Jake Matthews (Texas A&M). Also, UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr is a possibility.
Here’s a look at the six prospects:
Barr: He played for former Falcons coach Jim Mora, who is the Bruins' head coach.
“He’s not as talented as Clowney,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said. “He’s not as big and probably just a notch below in terms of the explosive athleticism.”
Clowney: Most consider him the top prospect in the draft, and the Falcons may have to move to No. 1 to secure him.
“My biggest concern is just what’s his mental makeup,” Mayock said. “How important is it to him when he gets a big paycheck to become the best player in football, or is he just going to be happy to be a millionaire? I think that’s the most critical checking point from an organization (standpoint), is finding out what the motivation (is) and what kind of kid they are going to get.”
Lewan: He is considered the meanest and nastiest of the tackles.
“Taylor Lewan gets a little top heavy at times, but he’s got a nasty finish,” Mayock said. “He’s very similar to (Eric) Fisher and (Luke) Joeckel from last year, who went in the first couple of picks.”
Mack: He received rave reviews leading to the combine.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Mayock said. “The first tape that I put in was (Buffalo playing) Ohio State, and he blew them up. He played all over the field. (He was) on the edge and (was) dropping into coverage.
“Then the next tape that I put in was Kent State, and he made a one-handed interception. 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. …
“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.”
Matthews: He played left tackle and right tackle for the Aggies.
“The safest pick on the offensive line is Jake Matthews,” Mayock said. “He’s already (practically) a professional. He has the skill-set.”
Robinson: Considered the best run blocker of the tackles, he may need some refinement in his pass-protection technique.
“Greg Robinson from Auburn might have the highest upside of any of the offensive linemen in this draft, but he’s not quite as polished as Matthews or Taylor Lewan,” Mayock said. “Robinson is the one with the highest upside, but also the one that you’d be more concerned about just because he’s a little bit more raw.
