The Atlanta Falcons are contenders in the NFC South. In fact, if last season is any indication, all four teams are contenders in the NFC South. The New Orleans Saints traded Jimmy Graham, the Carolina Panthers are still searching for consistency and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are selecting No. 1 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft as they look to rebuild under likely first pick Jameis Winston. With that being said, the Falcons need to come up big in next month’s draft, with a few key openings that need to be filled. With the NFL Free Agency period all but finished, the 2015 NFL Draft is the ultimate way that teams can improve upon last season’s results. As much as Atlanta could use a dominant pass rusher, at least one writer believes that the Dirty Birds will go with a local product at another position, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of The AJC says that the Falcons should select Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley with the No. 8 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
“The Falcons can’t mess this up like they did the last time they had the eighth pick in the draft,” writes Ledbetter. “They must pick the best player available (Todd Gurley) and not pick for need (pass rusher). The best player available in Mock Draft 1.0 is former Georgia running back Todd Gurley and that’s who the Falcons should take.”
Will the Dirty Birds have something to cheer for in the backfield in 2015? They will if the team drafts Todd Gurley.
Whether or not the Falcons listen to Ledbetter remains to be seen, but Atlanta could use a running back. The unproductive days of Steven Jackson are done, and nobody knows if Devonta Freeman can be an effective back at the next level. He is likely best served in a complimentary role behind a workhorse such as Gurley, provided he is past his injury history.
Gurley most recently tore his ACL in a game back in November, meaning he will miss the start of the 2015 NFL regular season. His return date is expected around week five or six, meaning his rookie season would be a shortened one. Then again, with most rookies hitting a wall around week 11 or 12, that may not be the worst thing for a team with playoff aspirations such as the Falcons.
The Falcons are moving forward without Jackson or Jacquizz Rodgers. Freeman is not going to be carrying the ball 250+ times any time soon. Atlanta could greatly benefit in the passing game with a legitimate ground threat that is not seen as simply a plodder. Sure, the Falcons may have other needs but, if a player who has often been compared to Adrian Peterson (on the field, of course) is available at No. 8, it may be awfully difficult for Atlanta to pass on a running back loaded with so much potential.
I agree Gurley would in the long term be an asset to the Falcons with his talent, speed and overall productivity at the college level. He is a once in a decade athlete.
The Falcons I hope will make Gurley their target as there are plenty of defensive ends in this draft and I believe that the new coach and his staff will find a fit at the DE position, possible on the current roster of players?
Go FALCONS!!!! Draft….
1. Todd Gurley, rb
2. Eli Harold de
3. Preston Smith de
4. Ty Montgomery, wr
5. Anthony Harris s
6. Javoris “Buck” Allen, rb
7. Chris Conley, wr
ATLANTA FALCONS NEED TO DRAFT GURLEY AT# 8 TO BRING EXCITEMENT TO THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND DA CITY OF ATLANTA PLUS HIS VALUE IN TICKET SALES I SEE HIM AS A ICON RUNNING BACK IN DA NFL DEFENSES WILL HAVE THERE WORK CUT OUT TRYING TO STOP HIS RUSHING ATTACK DAN QUINN GURLEY WILL TAKE YOU TO PLAYOFFS YEAR AFTER YEAR RISE UP WITH GURLEY # 8 PICK