Atlanta Falcons make splashy first round decision in this mock draft

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Safety Richie Grant #27 from Central Florida of the American Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Safety Richie Grant #27 from Central Florida of the American Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 09: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on during the first half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021, in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA – OCTOBER 09: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on during the first half of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on October 9, 2021, in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Round One (Eighth overall): Kyle Hamilton, Safety (Notre Dame)

Okay, let’s address two things here: the Falcons are NOT taking a quarterback in the top 10 this year, and their pass rush is so inept, most of us here at Blogging Dirty could probably rack up more tackles on the quarterback than our defense.

So at first glance, one’s probably thinking: Why not someone like Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson/David Ojabo or Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux? All three are projected to go in the top 10, so it’s hard to say one of them won’t fall to Atlanta at eight.

However, one does have to consider that, prior to the Falcons selection, the New York Giants have two picks, and the Carolina Panthers are sandwiched between those picks.

In this mock, New York selected another EDGE rusher, that being Purdue’s George Karlaftis, along with Charles Cross, an offensive lineman from Mississippi State. Meanwhile, the Panthers managed to snag Ojabo to pair with Brian Burns on the opposite side of their defensive front.

That leaves Atlanta with a fielder’s choice of potential top-tier talent in the secondary just waiting to hear their phone ring with a “404” area code.

Enter Kyle Hamilton, who many scouts currently believe is the best player in this first-round level of talent. In fact, fellow site WithTheFirstPick has Hamilton graded as a player who could possibly go in the first five selections.

Essentially, this kid is special. No matter what site one reads about him, or how he looked on film, it’s hard to find true negatives about his game from his positional standpoint. Everyone believes he will be drafted high; how high that number remains to be seen.

Two of his comparisons to current NFL players include Isaiah Simmons, who went to the Cardinals, and Derwin James, arguably one of the better secondary players in the game today.

Side note: let’s say hypothetically a player like Thibodeaux does drop to Atlanta’s selection. Should the Falcons pounce on a “raw” edge rusher at 8, especially considering the last time they did that?

On paper, the answer is yes. Here, Atlanta truly takes the best player available in the first half of the first round.