Reggie Ragland: Atlanta Falcons draft profile

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Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland celebrates with snow angle in the middle of the field following their 45-40 victory over the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Falcons have several needs heading into the offseason and the linebacker position is sitting near the top of the list. Atlanta was very weak all season long from their three linebacker positions and our friends over at The Falcoholic agree whole-heartedly.

Editor-in-chief of The Falcoholic, Dave Choate is calling for a possible scrap of the current linebacking corps and would be very open to major changes. This is something we at Blogging Dirty full agree with, as well.

Luckily for the Falcons, there are numerous linebackers that the Falcons can either pick up in free agency, or use one of their draft picks in the 2016 NFL draft.

What the Falcons will do with their current situation at linebacker is something we won’t know for another month or so, but one thing is for certain. The Falcons will without a doubt be adding linebackers to this team one way or another.

One linebacker in the 2016 NFL draft stands out over the rest and that is Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland.

Reggie Ragland lowers the boom on a ball carrier

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) hits Ohio State Buckeyes running back Jalin Marshall (17) knocking his helmet off during the third quarter in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Ragland played four seasons with the Crimson Tide and got better with each passing year. Ragland started his college career with a national championship and finished it with a national championship, so a winning attitude is the only thing that Ragland has ever known.

Ragland started at inside linebacker as a junior and a senior and eclipsed the 90-tackle mark in both seasons including 97 tackles, two forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks in 2015-16.

Ragland was a First-Team All-American, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and All-SEC first-team this past season as well.

You may be wondering, if the Falcons take Ragland in the draft, would that mean the Paul Worrilow days are over?

Yes, that would be correct.

Worrilow has been the Falcons’ starting middle linebacker for three years now but just saw his contract expire. There is an extremely good chance that Worrilow will be playing football elsewhere in 2016 which would leave a gaping hole to fill.

“Worrilow was ineffective outside of a few (very brilliant) bright spots,” Choate said.

Worrilow just isn’t a top-tier linebacker in the NFL and a guy like Ragland could easily come in right away and be the signal caller for the Falcons’ defense.

Let’s take a look at Ragland’s strengths.

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