2018 NFL Draft: Atlanta Falcons 7-round mock draft in September
By Derek Snyder
Round 1: Mason Cole, C, Michigan Wolverines
If everything goes as planned, the Falcons won’t be making their first pick in the 2018 NFL draft until last that evening. More than likely, that will mean Thomas Dimitroff will be making his secretion between the last six picks, meaning most of the elite skill-position players will already be off the board.
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Even though the premier Skill guys will be gone, Atlanta will still have an opportunity to draft some elite-level offensive lineman at this point. That said, it would be smart to take offensive-lineman Mason Cole from the University of Michigan. Cole has made 41 consecutive starts (25 at tackle, the rest at center) on the Wolverines line after starting his first game as a true freshman and is a two-time All-Big Ten honoree.
I don’t care how good your football team is — having a plethora of talented linemen should always be a main concern. Not to mention, Cole has been playing center for the Wolverines for the last two seasons and would provide some pretty decent insurance for Alex Mack.
The Falcons Pro-Bowl caliber center will have to miss some games here and there at some point. Again, drafting Cole would give this offense another piece on their talented offensive line.