If you’re wondering who the Atlanta Falcons drafted in 2017, you’re not alone. A new group of Falcons is taking a shot at the NFL’s top position. The 2017 class featured six players selected by the Falcons, including Takk McKinley, Duke Riley, Sean Harlow, and Eric Saubert. Despite the influx of talent, however, there’s still some lingering questions regarding the Atlanta Falcons’ draft strategy.
Riley was a one year starter at LSU but he was a playmaker. He is athletic, has excellent ball skills, and a strong work ethic. Riley was the right linebacker for the Falcons. Quinn, meanwhile, like Riley, is known for his toughness as a linebacker. Quinn is a good fit for Atlanta’s young linebacker team, even though he’s not the most athletic.
Despite the age difference between the two, the Falcons have been great with their draft class in recent years. Although Earl Thomas and Vic Beasley Jr. have been impressive, the team has seen a significant improvement in their young cornerbacks. The addition of Jalen Collins, a former UCLA cornerback who had been suspended for a year, will bolster the Falcons’ pass rush. The cornerback group is expected to be incredibly potent when Trufant returns from his PED suspension.
Harlow was also drafted as the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He is a 6-foot-4 guard who played in 37 games for Oregon State. He was the team captain as a senior and started the final nine games of his junior year. He helped the Beavers set a school-record in yards per carry and was second-team All Pac-12. Who did the Falcons draft in 2017 then?
The 2017 draft class of the Atlanta Falcons was a disaster in terms of the players chosen. More than half of the picks were busts. Mike Dimitroff is a terrible scout and missed on some Pro Bowl talent. The team’s picks included players who never played a down and even more time on the practice squad than the regular roster. Although the team was a disaster last season, it was still better that the Falcons’ performance last year.
The Falcons had plenty of needs in the first, third, and fourth rounds. The fifth round was used to evaluate the best available players. The Tennessee Titans’ running back Isaiah Hill was selected. Hill’s impressive resume includes 1,860 yards and 22 touchdowns last year and 1,631 in the previous season. However, Hill didn’t expect to go to the Falcons, given their depth. This is the first thing that the Falcons should do when selecting Hill.
The other Falcons pick is Takk McKinley, who the team selected with the 26th overall pick. McKinley played one season at Contra Costa College before transferring to UCLA. In those two seasons, he made 99 tackles, 28.0 tackles for loss, and 16.0 sacks. He also recorded 10 passes defense. While Takk is not a superstar, he’s still an elite player in the NFL.