Falcons 2016 Draft: Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay make predictions

Who do draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay project to the Atlanta Falcons?

With the 2016 NFL Draft under a week away, ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay joined forces to go through a complete first round mock draft on Thursday Night. The rules are that they alternate in their selections, acting like the general manager of the team on the clock. There are no trades.

With the 17th pick in the mock draft, Kiper stepped up to the board with his Thomas Dimitroff/Dan Quinn cap on, and had the Falcons selecting linebacker Darron Lee out of Ohio State University.

Kiper and McShay are infatuated with Lee’s speed, citing his 4.43 40 time multiple times. Kiper also notes that he’s very athletic, which will help him in coverage, and that he’ll only get better in the NFL. Louis Riddick, who was providing analysis along with Adam Schefter says: “If available, they (Falcons) will sprint to the podium to get that pick (Lee) in.” 

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Some other first round notes: Kiper had the Bears taking Leonard Floyd of Georgia with pick 11. Kiper also had Myles Jack, whom many believe could fall into Atlanta’s lap due to a knee injury, going in the top-five to the Jaguars. Josh Doctson was the first receiver off the board to Tennessee, ahead of Laquon Treadwell. Shaq Lawson, a legitimate option for Atlanta, fell to Buffalo at 19. Corey Coleman went to Houston at 23, also ahead of Treadwell.

As for the rest of the NFC South: they had the Bucs taking OT Ronnie Stanley out of Notre Dame; the Saints going with DT Sheldon Rankins from Louisville; and the Panthers selecting OT Germain Ifedi out of Texas A&M.

Last year, in this week before the draft mock, Kiper had the Falcons selecting Bud Dupree out of Kentucky. Two years ago, Kiper once again made the Atlanta pick, and he went with OT Taylor Lewan out of Michigan.

Next: Falcons target defense in latest NFL mock draft

If you’d like to see more Falcons mock drafts, check out our writers’mock that we at Blogging Dirty are currently in the middle of. You can view Round 1 here, and Round 2 here.