Falcons coach Dan Quinn put the team through its first practice under the new regime Tuesday.
While the Falcons are allowed to have an extra minicamp this season because of Quinn’s hiring, most of the attention remains on the NFL draft, which is set for Thursday-Saturday in Chicago.
The Falcons, who are considering their options to move up, hold the eighth pick.
Here’s a look at five players the team could land in the draft:
Dante Fowler Jr., DE
College: Florida. Height: 6-foot-3. Weight: 261 pounds. Hometown: St. Petersburg, Fla. High school: Lakewood. Age: 20.
Highlights: Fowler was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. "He was one that we thought would develop into a pass rusher," said Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who recruited Fowler to Florida. "His first year there, he played right away as a true freshmen, which is not the easiest thing to do in that conference playing as a true freshman." Fowler turned in a strong junior season before declaring for the draft. He had 60 tackles, including 15 for losses and 8.5 sacks.
Leonard Williams, DT/DE
College: USC. Height: 6-5. Weight: 302. Hometown: Daytona Beach, Fla. High school: Mainland. Age: 20.
Highlights: Some consider Williams the top player in the draft because of his flexibility and strength. Williams made an instant impact and was the Pac-12's defensive freshmen of the year. He has played tackle and defensive end. He finished with 138 tackles, including 27 for losses (with 14 sacks), four deflections, three fumble recoveries and one interception over his career. He had 22 career starts. He was recruited to play at Florida by Quinn, when he was the Gators' defensive coordinator.
Todd Gurley, RB
College: Georgia. Height: 6-1. Weight: 222. Hometown: Tarboro, N.C. High school: Tarboro. Age: 20.
Highlights: He started 27 of 30 games for the Bulldogs and rushed for 3,285 yards and 36 touchdowns. He scored 44 career touchdowns (36 rushing, six receiving and two kickoff returns), which ranked second behind Herschel Walker (52). He finished second in school history with 4,322 all-purpose yards and 3,285 rushing yards, trailing only Walker (5,749). He likely will be the first running back selected in the first round of the draft since 2012. Gurley suffered the torn ACL in his left knee in November during his first game back from his four-game NCAA suspension for accepting cash for signing autographs. Gurley ran track for Team USA in Europe during the spring and summer of 2011.
Vic Beasley, DE/OLB
College: Clemson. Height: 6-3. Weight: 246. Hometown: Adairsville. High school: Adairsville. Age: 22.
Highlights: Clemson's all-time sack leader and a native of Adairsville, Beasley wants to play for the Falcons. He 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.
Bud Dupree, DE/OLB
College: Kentucky. Height: 6-4. Weight: 269. Hometown: Irwinton. High school: Wilkinson County. Age: 22.
Highlights: Dupree had a strong combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds, which was tied for third among linebackers at the combine. He ranked first among linebackers with a broad jump of 11 feet, 6 inches. He played in 47 games for the Wildcats and had 23.5 sacks, 37 tackles for losses and forced four fumbles. He played strongside and weakside linebacker before moving to defensive end for his junior season. He was excused from lifting at the combine because of a pectoral strain, and he had a groin injury that limited his shuttle runs.
