Atlanta Falcons: Incredibly too early SI mock goes for wide receiver in 2018
By Randy Gurzi
In their incredibly too early 2018 NFL Mock Draft, Sports Illustrated has the Atlanta Falcons going for Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington at No. 28
According to some, it’s way too early to be thinking about the 2018 NFL Draft. But let’s be real, it’s never too early to think about the NFL Draft. It’s one of the biggest — and most debated — events in all of the sports world. It’s how championships are built, and that’s exactly what the Atlanta Falcons have been trying to build in recent seasons.
They’ve been particularly good in the first round since head coach Dan Quinn started to work with general manager Thomas Dimitroff. In 2015 they went out and found themselves a dangerous edge rusher in Vic Beasley, Jr. out of Clemson who wound up leading the league in sacks in his second season with 15.5.
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In 2016 they once again found a stud as they tabbed strong safety Keanu Neal as their opening round pick from Florida. Neal was all over the field as a rookie with 106 tackles and has the arrow pointing up on his career.
Will Quinn and Dimitroff continue to revamp this defense going forward with their first round picks? According to the crew over at Sports Illustrated, they won’t. In their super early 2018 NFL Mock Draft, they have the Falcons picking at No. 28 and taking a wide out in James Washington out of Oklahoma State.
"Mason Rudolph’s favorite target (1,380 yards and 10 touchdowns last season) plans to play through a hernia injury in ’17, so we’ll see how much that impacts his production. Defenses sure have not had much luck slowing him down. The Falcons are not necessarily lined up to need a receiver ahead of next year, but a player of Washington’s caliber could be too much to turn down."
Vitals
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 205 Pounds
Career Receptions: 158
Career Yardage: 3,068
Career TDs: 28
Washington is an excellent player for sure, and he lit up Tulsa in their first game of the 2017 college season with 145 yards and two touchdowns. While SI tells Falcon’s fans to keep an eye on him, it feels like this isn’t a pick the Falcons will make.
Sure, Washington on the same field as Falcons receiver Julio Jones would be fantastic, but between Jones and Mohamed Sanu the team is already heavily invested at the position. Of course all that could change is Sanu doesn’t continue to prove to be a strong No. 2 receiver.
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All indications are that won’t happen. Look for Atlanta instead to target an interior lineman finally to bolster that front. Washington is a great receiver and would be a welcome addition, the need just isn’t strong enough there to thin Dimitroff goes with Washington in Round 1.