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Atlanta Falcons: Darron Lee won’t be the pick at 17

By Colin Hubbard

Sep 19, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Darron Lee (43) returns the interception for a touchdown during the second half versus the Northern Illinois Huskies at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Darron Lee (43) returns the interception for a touchdown during the second half versus the Northern Illinois Huskies at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL mock draft season is always full of twists and turns and the 2016 season is no different. The Atlanta Falcons have been linked to numerous players in the first round but it seems like who people think they will pick change by the week.

Players that have been mocked to the Falcons include Shaq Lawson, Darron Lee and Reggie Ragland. These appear to the be the top 3 options for Atlanta when they pick 17th overall in less than two weeks but will any of them actually be the pick?

Lee appeared to be the pick just a couple of weeks ago and it made a lot of sense. The Falcons have a big hole to fill at the weak side linebacker position and Lee would fill that slot. However, with the draft just around the corner, it doesn’t seem like Lee is even a consideration at this point.

Lee is a solid player, but at the end of the day he isn’t “special” and will likely never be an all-pro in the NFL. What makes him a first-round pick is his tremendous speed but what he lacks is the ability to be aggressive and tackle well.

The Falcons are in need of a lot of players and they cannot afford to swing and miss in the first round. They need to draft the best player available if they decide not to trade back and that player just isn’t going to be Lee. If he’s the best player available then the Falcons shouldn’t even think twice about trading back.

Ragland is a player that was one of the original players mocked to the Falcons when the offseason started. Ragland would give the Falcons added depth at the inside linebacker position and would battle it out with Paul Worrilow for the starting job next season.

Ragland was quickly written off as being the Falcons’ first-round pick after not testing all that well, but it seems as if his name is starting to come full circle and could very well be the Falcons’ pick at 17.

Next: Which draft need is the biggest for the Atlanta Falcons?

If it came down to either Ragland or Lee, the Falcons would almost certainly draft Ragland.

What do you guys think?