Photos: Rookie numbers and Falcons who wore 'em

Atlanta Falcons

Photos: Rookie numbers and Falcons who wore 'em

The Atlanta Falcons' seven draft selections have picked their numbers, and some have some history behind them.

Falcons' top draft pick Vic Beasley - who wore No. 3 at Clemson - chose No. 44 as his jersey number (a new rule approved in March allows linebackers to chose numbers from 40-49). The last Falcon to wear No. 44 was running back Jason Snelling (right), who retired in 2013. Other Falcons notables to wear No. 44 include Steve Broussard, Fred McCrary and John Settle.

Cornerback Jalen Collins - a second-round pick out of LSU - will keep his college jersey number - 32. Among the notable Falcons to wear No. 32 are running backs Jamal Anderson, Ray Easterling and most recently Jacquizz Rodgers (right).

Running Tevin Coleman - who wore No. 6 at Indiana - will don No. 26 with the Falcons. The jersey number was last worn by defensive back Josh Wilson. The first Falcon to wear No. 26 was punter Billy Lothridge from 1966 to '71.

Wide receiver Justin Hardy - who wore No. 2 at East Carolina - will be outfitted with jersey No. 16 in Atlanta. Hardy explains that number is a combination on the No. 2 he wore at East Carolina and the No. 14 of his late father, Sam. The last Falcon to wear No. 16 was wide receiver Tim Buckley (right). Quarterback (now broadcaster) David Archer wore No. 16 with the Falcons from 1986 to '87.

Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett - a fifth-round pick - will switch from the No. 50 he wore at Clemson to the No. 97. Jarrett's father, Jessie Tuggle, is in the Falcons Ring of Honor. His No. 58 has not been worn by a Falcon since Tuggle retired in 2000. No. 97, however, has some history as it's been worn by Cornelius Bennett and Patrick Kerney (right).

Sixth-round pick Jake Rodgers - an offensive lineman out of Eastern Washington - wore No. 65 with the Eagles and previously No. 69 at Washington State. Rodgers will retain the No. 65, which was last notably worn on the Falcons by Jeremy Trueblood.

Cornerback Akeem King - a seventh-round pick out of San Jose State - will trade the No. 25 he wore in college for No. 28, which was notably worn by Falcons Thomas DeCoud (right), Javier Arenas and Warrick Dunn.

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Falcons' top draft pick Vic Beasley - who wore No. 3 at Clemson - chose No. 44 as his jersey number (a new rule approved in March allows linebackers to chose numbers from 40-49). The last Falcon to wear No. 44 was running back Jason Snelling (right), who retired in 2013. Other Falcons notables to wear No. 44 include Steve Broussard, Fred McCrary and John Settle.

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