Sports Page Atlanta

Does everyone realize that the NFL Draft is this weekend? It’s right around the corner. I did some looking around at mock drafts, and came up with this. Nobody is certain what will happen at the #3 slot when the Atlanta Falcons pick. Here’s a look at ten mock drafts from around the internet, and a sneak peek at who Atlanta will take.

• Walter Football -  Jake Long, OT, Michigan
• NFL Draft Countdown - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
• Draft King - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
• NFL Network - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
• FF Toolbox - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
• Football’s Future - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
• NFL Draft Dog - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
• The Football Expert - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
• The NFL Draft Site - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
• EMQB - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College

So, Dorsey and Ryan both take 40% of the votes here with McFadden and Long getting 10%. I’ll keep updating mock draft results as the week goes on. Until then, go read the write-ups at these sites. Some are very, very good.

photo credit: ninjapoodles

Darren McFadden, RB, ARK: Okay, if Run DMC is available, and I think he will be, he’s obviously the best player on the board. He has break away speed, exceptional vision, he attacks the hole and often makes a new one when one isn’t there, the true sign of a successful runner on Sundays. McFadden also possesses rare athleticism (see wild-cat package at ARK). He can catch out of the backfield or split out, and he brings that third threat of throwing on trick plays.

As I have mentioned, normally I am a proponent of drafting the best player on the board, EXCEPT in the first round, but with so many needs won’t the best player be the best pick, master JT? Ahhh young Jedi, much to learn you have. Normally you would be right, the Falcons need just about everything so the best pick seems like the best player available…except for that one small fact that of all the positions on the football field, running back is the one spot where the Falcons have the talent they need. Norwood is a stud. And the addition of Michael “the burner” Turner gives the falcons a strong 1-2 punch to run the ball.

Okay so other than already having two running backs and other needs you want another reason not to draft the best player available? Okay, here it is. There’s another team that has thrown caution to the wind and drafted what they thought was the best player available, and it was always a skill position, the same skill position in fact. Yep that’s the right. It’s those Detroit Lions and they’re infatuation with the best overall player, which oddly, always seemed to be a wide-out. Now Roy Williams definitely worked out, and while the jury is still out on Calvin Johnson, he certainly looks promising. However, Charles Rodgers and Mike Williams both turned out to be huge busts, and the Lions are still reeling. Can Atlanta afford a 50/50 risk? No! Is McFadden a 50/50 risk? Again, no. But the Falcons need to make the tough call to pass on the best player and draft one of their many MANY needs.