Atlanta Falcons: Looking back at second round picks since 2008

I have always had the opinion that a player should not be evaluated as a bust until their third season in the NFL. For the 2017 draft class this is a big season for this group. In the 2017 NFL Draft the Falcons did not make a selection in this round as they traded down with the Buffalo Bills to select LB Duke Riley out of LSU with the 75th overall selection. So far it is not looking good for Riley as he looks lost whenever he is on the field. Riley does not take the best angels when pursuing defenders and fans have noticed.

The one positive on Riley has been his pass coverage. Rarely does he give up a big play when he is covering a defender and does a great job of covering TE. This is going to be a big season for Riley as many are unsure if he could start at weak side linebacker or even make the roster. This upcoming preseason is going to be a big test for Riley. In terms of evaluating this selection for Thomas Dimitroff it does not look good for the moment but could change if Riley can step up in 2019.

In the 2018 the Falcons select CB Isaiah Oliver out of Colorado with the 58th overall selection. Just after his rookie year it is way to early to call Oliver a miss or successful draft pick. 2019 will give us an early indication on Oliver as he is projected to be the starting corner opposite Desmond Trufant, provided the Falcons do not target a corner early in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Thomas Dimitroff has been a good general manager for the Falcons and has drafted well in his tenure in Atlanta. For his second round selections Dimitroff is hitting on picks at about 50%. It is still early to put a grade on Oliver, in his other drafts he is five for ten. It will be interesting to see what the Falcons do in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.