Why Atlanta Falcons should avoid Reggie Ragland in 2016 NFL Draft
Selecting Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland with the No. 17 pick would be a mistake for the Atlanta Falcons.
Reggie Ragland is a name appearing in many Atlanta Falcons mock drafts, and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has projected him to the Falcons at No. 17 in his latest mock draft.
Ragland has the potential to become a very good football player at the next level and there’s no doubting he will hear his name called on day one in Chicago later this month, but it shouldn’t be when the Falcons are on the clock.
Atlanta has a few major needs on defense. First they need to find an edge rusher who can consistently get after the quarterback. A linebacker who can hold up in coverage against running backs and tight ends is also a glaring weakness, as is safety.
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Ragland doesn’t fill any of those needs. I’m a firm believer in taking the best player available, so it’s not simply that he doesn’t ‘fix a need’ that makes me question his fit in Atlanta. Instead, it’s that there will be better players available at the spot.
If the Falcons opted for a defensive lineman such as Sheldon Rankins or Andrew Billings, it would be a surprising yet understandable pick. Either could be top of the board when Atlanta picks, and they would both offer upgrades along the defensive line. Rankins and Billings are elite run-stuffers but also offer plenty as interior pass rushers.
Ragland’s lack of speed and coverage ability means he’ll likely be a two-down player at the next level, at least as a rookie. Spending the 17th overall pick on a player who rarely features on the “money down” is an expensive price to pay, particularly when there are other needs on defense.
Darron Lee of Ohio State would be a better fit should the Falcons look to upgrade their linebacker corps right off the bat: Lee has the speed to give chase and can make plays on the football while in coverage. Even then, landing a day two talent like LSU’s Deion Jones would make more sense.
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Make no mistake, Ragland is a talented football player and any team would benefit from his services. He is an old-school thumper who can immediately upgrade a defense against the run. But with just five selections in the draft, selecting the Alabama product would still leave major deficiencies on defense.