Atlanta Falcons 7-round mock draft keeps offense lethal, upgrades defense

Most fans wouldn’t list wide receiver as a top need for Atlanta in the draft. However, it probably should be when you look at the depth chart behind Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. And Simi Fehoko would be a great late-round pick with upside to outplay where he’ll be drafted given his phenomenal athleticism.

Fehoko isn’t going to win with great release or route-running but, at 6-4, 22 pounds, he ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the Stanford pro day. That combination of size and speed can make him a nightmare to cover if he’s used properly. Developing Fehoko as a receiver in waiting could be what he and the Falcons need as it will add depth and help set them up for the future simultaneously.

Other Players Considered: T.J Vasher, Cole Van Lanen, D.J Daniel

Traditionally, Pees has been a big fan of high-caliber athletes at linebacker due to his affinity for blitzing heavily and disguising those blitzes. Deion Jones and Foysade Oluokun are good players for the Falcons defense but adding another athlete to the mix wouldn’t hurt.

Riley Cole has two major strengths to his game: his speed and ability to blitz. His film shows him flying all over the field, downhill and side-to-side, to make quality tackles and plays at linebacker. Moreover, he does the same when asked to blitz as he crashes into offensive linemen to create good pass-rushing reps.

However, Cole falls to the end of the draft due to the fact that he’s not the best at disengaging from blocks and has subpar legnth. Despite that, he could be a sub-package weapon for Pees in addition to adding value on special teams.

Other Players Considered: Charles Snowden, K.J Britt, Grant Stuard