2016 NFL Mock Draft: Full First-Round Projections, Super Bowl Edition

Notre Dame. Jaylon Smith. 17. player. 44. <b> </b> <p>This past season, the Falcons sported one of the worst pass rushes in the NFL despite investing heavily in the department during the 2015 offseason. While there appeared to be significant progress made after defensive guru Dan Quinn took over as head coach, there’s still more work to be done. That starts with adding even more talent along the defensive front.</p> <p>It’s crazy to think that Smith could fall this far after being considered a Top-5 prospect in December, but that’s what a torn ACL and MCL can do to your draft stock. Still, there’s no denying that a healthy Smith brings a heaping pile of potential to the table. He proved during this past season that he can be a defensive star and menace for opposing quarterbacks, which is exactly what Atlanta needs.</p> <p>Smith would be a perfect project for Quinn. There’s no telling how he’ll bounce back from a major knee injury, but the upside and natural ability are there for him to develop into a star in the NFL. With Quinn guiding him, all Smith needs is a healthy knee to begin terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.</p>. Outside Linebacker