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Atlanta Falcons: To draft, not to draft prospects with red flags

By Freddie Boston

Sep 5, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) signals in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) signals in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad quarterback Carson Wentz of North Dakota State (11) throws a pass while under pressure from South squad defensive end Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky (97) during first half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad quarterback Carson Wentz of North Dakota State (11) throws a pass while under pressure from South squad defensive end Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky (97) during first half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

DE Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky

Noah Spence is one of the best pure pass rushers in the entire draft class, and he would help the Falcons in their desperate search of players who can get after the quarterback. Spence can do that, but the concerns with him arise from a history of drugs.

Spence was kicked out of Ohio State following multiple failed drugs tests. To his credit, he decided not to enter the NFL draft a year ago, instead opting for a transfer to Eastern Kentucky. Spence wanted to prove he was clean and asked for regular drugs tests, as Brandon Sneed of Bleacher Report wrote in this excellent in-depth piece:

"“So to Eastern Kentucky Noah went, setting the big goal, a friend says, of 20 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks, and also asking to be drug-tested as often as possible. When the EKU athletic department couldn’t supply enough tests for his liking, he convinced his counseling center to drug-test him, too. And lo and behold, he finished the season with 22.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks, and he graduated with a general studies degree and a 3.0 GPA.”"

Despite all of this, Spence would of course be a gamble at No. 17. What if he gets caught up in the wrong crowd and winds up with a suspension as Randy Gregory did in Dallas? It could happen, but reading Spence’s story there’s reason to believe he’s put it all behind him and is ready to prove himself in the NFL.

The Falcons need a pass rusher badly, and Spence can be the difference-maker the defense needs.

To draft or not to draft: To draft

Next: Injury is the concern