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Atlanta Falcons 2016 NFL Draft: Options at nose tackle

By Eric Robinson

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive tackle D.J. Reader (48) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma Sooners in the third quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive tackle D.J. Reader (48) reacts after a play against the Oklahoma Sooners in the third quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 14, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai (96) takes the field prior to facing the Philadelphia Eagles at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Paul Soliai (96) takes the field prior to facing the Philadelphia Eagles at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

As you all know by now, the recent news of defensive tackle Paul Soliai being released soon should not come as much as a surprise. The 32 year-old tackle was a nice option at the nose tackle position for Atlanta due to the defensive scheme requiring a heavy anchor at the 1-tech.

Yet, he was due to make over $6 million over the course of the 2016 season and for a guy who plays roughly 20-30 plays a game, with an injury history, Soliai was making a little more than he should. When Soliai is cut, it leaves a hole at the 1-tech defensive tackle spot and the team may eye the 2016 draft in the later rounds to fill that void.

In this 4-3 under scheme, the nose tackle position requires a DT who is in the neighborhood of 320 pounds or more and his main objective is to tie up interior offensive linemen and present a stout wall which allows the 3-tech DT to beat his one-on-one battle to make a play or allow the linebackers to roam free and cause havoc.

I will give a few realistic options for the NT which, if addressed in the draft, won’t get a true look until the 3rd round at the earliest. So you won’t see A’Shawn Robinson, Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, Vernon Butler, or even Andrew Billings as those prospects will be gone by the mid-second round. With that in place, let’s get started.

Next: A big man from Texas