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Atlanta Falcons: Consider Shaq Lawson a pipe dream

By Colin Hubbard

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) as he made a sack against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) as he made a sack against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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We are two days and some change away from the first round of the 2016 NFL draft and you could only imagine how busy the Atlanta Falcons are because of it.

Atlanta is one of the most intriguing teams in this years’ draft class for a couple of reasons. One, they’re picking the fewest times out of anyone with just five picks and the other being they have a history of trading in the first round.

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While all of the trades have been to move up in the draft, this could very well be the year that the Falcons move back. And one of the players potentially keeping them from trading back likely won’t be anymore.

Clemson pass rusher Shaq Lawson has been far and beyond one of the fan favorites in the draft amongst Atlanta fans. If he was to be available at 17, the Falcons would probably be forced to draft him but I don’t think that’s going to be the case.

It’s looking more and more like Lawson will be a pipe dream at this point. With at least three teams showing strong interest in him that pick before the Falcons, the chances of all of them passing on him aren’t high at all.

This is good news, folks, not bad news. It’s good news because Lawson was likely the only player that realistically had a chance of falling to the Falcons at 17 that they would be forced to draft. This now clears room for them to trade back in the first round and stockpile more draft picks.

It’s unclear as to where Georgia-native Leonard Floyd will go, but if it’s down to either drafting Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee or trading back, the Falcons would be wise to trade back.

The draft is so close that I can almost taste it. Let the fun begin!!