Atlanta Falcons: Who will start at weak side linebacker?

Darron Lee

Meet your 2016 staring weak side linebacker Atlanta Falcons’ fans. Well, that’s if he is still on the board at pick 17. This is a youngster that possesses a ton of upside coming out of the Ohio State University and has the speed that you’re looking for out of the position.

Darron Lee ran the quickest 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine with a time of 4.43. That is ridiculously fast for a linebacker and that alone will solidify himself as a first-round pick. Now where he winds up in the first round is yet to be determined, but you have to imagine that he’s a top-20 guy at the very worst.

Can Lee cover a lot of ground? Absolutely. Can he hit? Well, that’s debatable. Lee’s biggest knock heading into the draft is whether or not he can tackle. He had a few instances in college in which he missed some easy tackles and he has never really been known as a thumper. But, what he will bring to the team is an uncanny ability to cover ground and be around the ball on pretty much every play.

The Falcons have already had a private workout with Lee which should already turn on some lightbulbs. He’s a player that thrives in open space and that’s something that the Falcons have been looking for. Dan Quinn is all about having players who can light it up on the radar gun and Lee is definitely one of those players. Is he a future Pro Bowl linebacker? It doesn’t appear so, but if he’s put into Quinn’s defense, he very well could exceed all expectations and become one of the best in the game.

Next: Deion Jones