NFL Mock Draft 5.0: Could Saquon Barkley fall to the Redskins at No. 13?
By Ian Cummings
The Atlanta Falcons are on track to lose defensive tackle Dontari Poe to free agency. Thus, they’ll need to add more talent on the defensive line in the draft. Florida’s Taven Bryan fits the bill, in this sense.
Bryan is far from a perfect prospect, but on a stout defense such as the Falcons’ unit, he can come in and produce on a rotational basis right away. His potential is sky high, and as I wrote in my last NFL Mock Draft, Bryan was born to shed blocks on the interior.
"The production wasn’t always there for Bryan, but the stat sheet doesn’t do his impact justice. Bryan was a player who constantly demanded double teams from opponents. His size, 6-foot-5, 293, allows him to match up with clashing offensive linemen, while his sheer athletic talent makes him a nightmare to block."
For the Falcons, who don’t have very many holes to patch up, Taven Bryan would be a good selection in the NFL Draft. He’ll fill the need left by the departure of Dontari Poe, and in time, he can become a lynchpin for the defense.