Blogging Dirty
FanSided

With The 32nd Pick In The 2018 NFL Draft The Atlanta Falcons Select

By Ikaika Hall

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Matthew Thomas
ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Matthew Thomas /
facebooktwitterreddit

Atlanta Falcons fans, it is never too early to look ahead to the NFL Draft. Here is who I’d like for Atlanta to select in the 1st round of the 2018 draft…

Thus far under Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn’s leadership, the team has only drafted defensive players in the first-round.

Although Notre Dame Guard Quenton Nelson would be a nice first-round pick in 2018, I am going to guess that the Falcons will draft yet another defensive player in the first-round, and his name is…

Florida State Seminoles linebacker Matthew Thomas.

Reality says Thomas will likely be drafted within the first 25 picks of the 2018 draft. However, I for one thought Falcons defense end Takkarist McKinley would have been drafted much earlier than he was (and he most likely would have been were it not for a recent surgery).

More from Blogging Dirty

I believe Thomas would be a great fit in Coach Quinn’s defense because he has incredible speed as a linebacker. In addition, he plays with great instincts.

Once Thomas plants his foot in the ground and sees the play unfold, he often makes the correct read and arrives violently.

Thus far he has eleven solo tackles and two sacks this season for the Seminoles. Last year he led the team with fifty solo tackles.

At least at the college level, Thomas has proven that he can be trusted to make a one-on-one tackle in the open field against a speedy back (I’m looking at you Duke Riley).

Thomas plays with great passion and intensity, which would take our defense up yet another level.

If I were to describe him using qualities and attributes of current Falcons players, I would describe Brown as having similar instincts to Falcons linebacker Deion Jones and the capability to arrive violently, much like Falcons safety Keanu Neal.

I like Thomas a lot. Truth is however, he most likely won’t be available when Atlanta finally picks in the first-round.

Next: Atlanta Falcons: 3 players whose stock dropped in Week 4

Although, if Atlanta continues to suffer injuries and lose close games, I must admit that in the back of my mind I will quietly hope that our consolation comes in the form of one Matthew Thomas.

Who would you like to see the Falcons draft next year?