Atlanta Falcons 2018 Draft Class Review

With the 2018 NFL Draft behind us, it’s time to begin the review process on how each team stacks up with the selections they’ve made. Though the Falcons only had six selections in this year’s draft, General Manger Thomas Dimitroff made it count picking top end talent. Perhaps the money will be made, and the returns will be plentiful from their top two choices, while good depth was achieved. Can the Falcons get back on track and push for another run, time will tell, let’s review… 

Atlanta Falcons 2018 Draft Class Review:

Round 1 – Pick 26 (26)

Calvin Ridley (WR)

While many conversations have been had and the topic of course is the talent level of former Alabama product Calvin Ridley. Many of my colleagues have written off Calvin placing opinions that he is undersized, doesn’t possess the top end talent needed for a pro wide receiver, is too thin and lacks the overall size to dominate at the next level. Let ADF remove those notions as we are believers in what Ridley can become. As the conversations continued, the overarching conclusion seemed to reside in the fact that Ridley would only become productive in the NFL in the slot position, again we disagree.

Calvin Ridley is a natural athlete that possesses great speed, a magical first step off the line, his route running could challenge the top receivers in the NFL in the next few years, the intelligence to find room where no room exists, possesses fantastic after the catch ability, potential super star hands, and the list goes on and on. ADF is a firm believer that Ridley can man both the outside and the slot which should be the case while playing in Atlanta. The reason for all of Ridley’s naysayer’s reins quite evident to us as his production fell off in his last two seasons where his junior year was the most productive. Moving his talents to Atlanta to play with the great Julio Jones and Matt Ryan and a slew of talented players, Ridley is on point to show the world he is worth the price of admission. Early days in the offseason workouts have seen Calvin working from both the slot and the outside to gain multiple looks to try and expose the opposition. Ridley will have to put on some weight in the form of another 10 pounds or so to fill out a rather lean frame. Outside of that, get ready to see this man work.  

ADF Prediction: Very high potential, potential pro bowl talent.

Round 2 – Pick 26 (58)

Isaiah Oliver (DB)

What can we say other than this draft class for the defensive backs was in fact one of the deepest we’ve seen in years. Adding yet another gleaming review, ADF is a big fan of Isaiah Oliver and the talent he brings to the table. Oliver enjoys great size and speed to match great strength as he just looks the part of an NFL cover-corner. While Oliver wasn’t much of a ball hawk, his craft was built around locking down the receiver and making sound plays on the ball. Oliver recorded only 3 interceptions in his time at Colorado but was able to garner a nice 25 pass breakups 12 coming in his final year.

While reviewing his tape, Oliver does have some weaknesses that need to be ironed out before coach Quinn will trust him on a regular basis. At times he focuses on the receiver too much allowing his natural ability to overtake sound logical play, in that case his awareness needs some work. His coverage ability is a little raw at times but ADF is very confident he will be coached up by the many talented players on the Falcons backend like Keanu Neal and Desmond Trufant. He should find a role early on the Atlanta defense in a starting capacity. 

ADF Prediction: High potential, future starter and lock down corner.

Round 3 – Pick 26 (90)

Deadrin Senat (DT)

This pick was a clear need fill trying to add adequate depth to a roster that saw Dontari Poe fly the coup (pun intended), leaving the Falcons once again desperately thin on the defensive front. If this team has any glaring weak spot, its clear it resides on the line. Deadrin Senat is an interesting player that lacks height but makes up for it in weight coming in at 6’0” tall and holding 315 pounds. While his height may look like a limitation, Senat makes up for it with great strength and solid football savvy that should allow him to carve out a role early. On another squad he might have struggled to earn playing time, but Atlanta is the perfect place to get his feet wet. ADF expects to see a lot of him in his first season in the NFL.

ADF Prediction: Moderate/low upside, rotational player.  

Round 4 – Pick 26 (126)

Ito Smith (RB)

ADF still can’t understand how the NFL combine gave this man a snub, as Ito Smith will prove he can provide a much-needed change of pace to an NFL backfield. Smith does show great vision and fantastic elusiveness teamed with patience and good strength lowering his shoulder upon first contact. Ito did run a nice 40 time at his pro-day clocking a sub 4.5 time while holding a frame over 200 pounds. His height does leave something to be desired but shouldn’t be a hinderance on him what so ever.

Smith was a great producer in his time at Southern Mississippi cracking 1400 rushing yards twice in his last two seasons. During his career Smith was a true workhorse amassing a whopping 820 carries for 4538 yards and 42 touchdowns while keeping his average yards per carry well above 5 yards per carry. There’s no mistaking why the Falcons chose to Draft Ito as he could easily fill the void next season which should be left when Tevin Coleman finds his way to the open market to cash in on free agent dollars. Drafting Smith in the fourth round could view as a steal possessing fantastic value.    

ADF Prediction: Great upside, will produce.

Round 6 – Pick 20 (194)

Russell Gage (WR)

Depth was the vision here when choosing former LSU product Russell Gage in the sixth round of the draft. Having admirable size but a less the stellar frame should keep Gage working hard to find a role on this team. Gage is a put together athlete that has found a niche in special teams as a gunner finding ways to bring down returners. His role should be clear from day one with the potential to show his ability in the pass game. While we aren’t holding our breath for any type of offensive production this season, who’s to say it can’t happen in the future.  

Round 6 – Pick 26 (200)

Foye Oluokun (LB)

Coach Quinn is very clear that having players with immense athletic ability trumps that over anything else as his belief in talent that can’t be coached is priority number one. Adding to a solid group of line backers, Oluokun is a versatile player that can be placed in multiple looks confusing the offense while not being out of position. While Foye does have limitations with his awareness and tends to over peruse, ADF has no doubt Quinn will coach that flaw out of his game placing another speedy weapon on his vastly improving defense.      

2018 Undrafted Free Agent Signings

Chris Lammons, DB, South Carolina

Luke McNitt, FB, Nebraska

Joseph Putu, DB, Florida

Anthony Winbush, DE, Ball State

David Marvin, K, Georgia

Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, DE, UCLA

Emmanuel Ellerbe, LB, Rice

Malik Williams, RB, Louisville

Jake Roh, TE, Boise State

Kurt Benkert, QB, Virginia 

Daniel Marx, FB, Stanford

Dontez Byrd, WR, Tennessee Tech

Emmanuel Smith, LB, Vanderbilt

Matt Gono, OL, Wesley College

Demario Richard, RB, Arizona State

Justin Crawford, RB, West Virginia

Salesi Uhatafe, OL, Utah

J.C. Hassenauer, C, Alabama

Troy Mangen, TE, Ohio

Christian Blake, WR, Northern Illinois

Detrich Clark, WR, Colorado State

Devin Gray, WR, Cincinnati

Lamar Jordan, New Mexico

Jon Cunningham, DT, Kent State

MacKendy Cheridor, DE, Georgia State

Richard Jarvis, LB, Brown

Secdrick Cooper, DB, Louisiana Tech