Falcons 7-Round Mock Draft: Georgia LB Nolan Smith Headlines Class
With the NFL draft quickly approaching, who the Atlanta Falcons will select at No. 8 overall is anyone’s guess.
However, one name quickly gaining steam is extremely athletic Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith - who was recently selected by the Falcons in The Athletic's recent mock draft.
“The Falcons have added several notable veterans (Calais Campbell, Bud Dupree) to their defensive line it wouldn’t be surprising if they dropped a young rookie into that mix as well,” The Athletic wrote. “Smith was born and raised in Georgia, played his college ball for the Bulldogs and would get to stay in his home state to start his NFL career.”
The mock draft went on to predict all seven of the team’s selections. On Day 2, Atlanta fans should be looking at Michigan cornerback DJ Turner II in the second round and Old Dominion offensive guard Nick Saldiveri in the third.
Turner tested as one of the best athletes in this draft class, with a 4.26-second 40-yard yard dash and 38.5-inch vertical; he’d be able to match up with any receiver’s speed from the start.
Saldiveri can lineup in multiple positions on the offensive line, making him a versatile backup with the potential to earn a starting role.
Atlanta has an interesting distribution of draft picks on the event’s final day, with two fourth-round picks to kick things off, but no other draft capital until the seventh round, when it has two more selections.
Currently, speedy receiver prospect Trey Palmer out of Nebraska is projected to be the team's first selection in Round 4, followed by Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown, who won Defensive MVP in the Rose Bowl.
To end the Falcons' draft, they’re predicted to select TCU’s all-time leader in career punt return touchdowns, Derius Davis, and Oklahoma tight end Brayden Willis, who led the team in receiving touchdowns in 2022.
How the Falcons choose to invest their picks will be a situation worth motoring as they hope to fly to the top of the NFC South next season and prove themselves capable of keeping the divisional crown they dropped to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers late last season.
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