Flick's Falcons Mock Draft 1.0: Why Iowa DE Lukas Van Ness Makes Sense
The 2023 NFL Draft is two weeks away, and the Atlanta Falcons' board-setting meetings are underway.
As new information emerges in the coming weeks, mock drafts will change ... but as things stand, here's how SI's Falcon Report sees it playing out.
Round 1, Pick 8 Overall: Lukas Van Ness, DE, Iowa
The feeling is that this pick will go towards addressing the defensive front - it's just a matter of which player.
In this case, the 6-5, 272-pound Van Ness gets the nod, as his presence as a big-bodied defensive end fits new defensive coordinator's Ryan Nielsen vision, and his character and upside are both off the charts.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has previously cited the value of signing veterans to one-year contracts and drafting players who can eventually replace them - and with recently signed Calais Campbell filling a similar role to the one Van Ness will play, it makes sense here.
Further, with the pedigree that both Nielsen and Campbell have in regard to developing defensive lineman, Van Ness, who's viewed as just scratching the surface of his potential, would find himself in an environment suited for growth.
Van Ness recently performed a private workout in front of Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith.
Still, there are plenty of other options - should Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson fall, he'd be difficult for Atlanta to pass on. The same is true for Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy, a Georgia native whose parents were once Falcons season ticket holders, is another player the team has done a lot of work on, as is Georgia outside linebacker Nolan Smith.
However, the lean here is towards Van Ness, who's currently more highly thought of inside league circles than outside.
Round 2, Pick 44 Overall: Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
After making Jessie Bates III the fourth highest-paid safety in the league, it may come as a surprise to some that the Falcons are still in the market for one.
However, Atlanta's held formal meetings and/or top-30 visits with several of the class's top safeties, including Robinson, Alabama's Brian Branch and Illinois' Sydney Brown.
Further, according to ESPN, it's a position the Falcons will "attack" on the draft's second day, which certainly aligns with the conversations they've had.
During his Combine press conference, Fontenot spoke at length about the "star" defensive back position now being a starting role, and Robinson projects nicely to that role at the next level.
A Georgia native, Robinson grew up a Falcons fan and told SI's Falcon Report he'd cherish the opportunity to play at home.
"I know it's closer to home, but I feel like I can block all that out," said Robinson. "Being from Georgia, being able to help (the state of) Georgia win a Super Bowl, that's what it's about - I want to win a championship."
In this mock, he gets that opportunity - and it makes plenty of sense both schematically and when reading the tea leaves.
Round 3, Pick 75 Overall: Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
Smith stressed the need to get more explosive offensively - so how about college football's most productive big-play receiver from this past season?
The 6-0, 192-pound Palmer led the country in receptions of 70-plus yards with three and finished second in 60-plus-yard receptions with four.
A five-star recruit out of Kentwood, La., Palmer spent the first three years of his college career playing at LSU before transferring to Nebraska in 2022 and earning all-Big Ten honors.
Palmer, 22, has met with the Falcons and was already trending top-100 before turning in a strong pro day performance that could make him to Atlanta's third-round selection.
Round 4, Pick 110 Overall: Chandler Zavala, OG, North Carolina State
A riser throughout the process, Zavala had a solid week at the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he was coached by the Falcons' staff.
The 6-3, 322-pound Zavala earned first team All-ACC honors this past season, starring in the Wolfpack's wide zone offense, which is the same used by Smith.
Zavala, a sixth-year senior, is well-regarded for his ability to play in space and comes with a strong connection to Atlanta beyond his experience at the Shrine Bowl.
Now-Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford held the same role at North Carolina State from 2016 through 2018 - and while it was before Zavala arrived, the same coaching staff from his time there remains.
The draft's third day is often dubbed the most important, as it's used by teams to fill out their rosters - and in this situation, taking players who the staff knows only adds to the likelihood that they can contribute early in some form or fashion.
Round 4, Pick 113 Overall: Kei'Trel Clark, CB, Louisville
Acquired from the Tennessee Titans in the Julio Jones trade, the Falcons use the selection on Clark, who inside linebackers coach and Shrine Bowl acting defensive coordinator Frank Bush said was the player who "flashed the most" in Las Vegas.
See the trend?
Clark, who stands 5-10, 181 pounds, is ultra-competitive and has the instincts, foot quickness and speed (4.42 40-yard dash) needed to mirror and match receivers.
Wake Forest receiver A.T. Perry, a likely top-100 pick, said Clark, who's four inches shorter than Perry, was the toughest player he faced during the week and noted that matchups like that only help his game improve.
The Falcons recently acquired corner Jeff Okudah from the Detroit Lions, but they're not expected to pick up his fifth-year option, meaning he's on a one-year deal. Similarly, nickel Mike Hughes received a two-year deal, but there's an easy out after one season.
Further, veteran starter Casey Hayward is entering the final year of his deal, which puts the Falcons in position to lose three potential heavy-snap players next offseason.
Thus, corner remains a need - and Clark is a fit, both in terms of ethos and scheme ... plus, he's already a favorite of the coaching staff.
Round 7, Pick 224 Overall: Jadon Haselwood, WR, Arkansas
It's possible the Falcons have spent more time with Haselwood than any other prospect in the 2023 class. After coaching him at the Shrine Bowl, the Falcons met with Haselwood at his pro day and again virtually.
The 6-2, 215-pound Haselwood played all over the field for the Razorbacks, including at H-back, but largely operated out of the slot.
Haselwood, an Atlanta native, caught 59 passes for 702 yards and three touchdowns in his lone season with the Razorbacks, ranking eighth in program history in single-season receptions.
Drops were an issue at times for Haselwood throughout the week at the Shrine Bowl, but he's sudden, can separate and fits the size quota that Smith has previously sought after - and the documented meetings only adds to the list of things in favor of a potential late-round selection.
Round 7, Pick 225 Overall: Blake Whiteheart, TE, Wake Forest
The Falcons landed this selection from the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason in addition to receiver Bryan Edwards, who has since been released.
Atlanta has done plenty of work on this tight end class, specifically in the second tier, meeting with Michigan's Luke Schoonmaker and Iowa's Sam LaPorta.
But Whiteheart comes with a balanced skill-set and familiarity with the coaching staff, something that should prove valuable come draft day.
Whiteheart noted the transition to Atlanta's offense from Wake Forest was "much different," but he enjoyed his time with the coaching staff and feels like he's a strong fit within the scheme.
"Everyone from the Falcons staff was super supportive," Whiteheart said. "A lot of that stuff was new to me, but I felt like I took it on pretty well."
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