Atlanta Falcons look to upgrade in draft

FLOWERY BRANCH (TNS) — All of the visits with draft prospects are completed.

There are no more private workouts or three-cone drills to run on college campuses.

Arthur Blank’s private plane can get a rest and all of the scouting reports have been submitted.

Now, the Atlanta Falcons are ready to turn in their draft card in the first-round of the NFL draft, which is set to start at 8 p.m. Thursday in Chicago. The draft runs through Saturday, with rounds two and three on Friday and rounds four through seven on Saturday.

“We are battling to find the right guys,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said.

The Falcons, in dire need of help on defense, plan to stand pat with the 17th overall pick. They are convinced that a solid defensive player will be available and help them close the gap on the Carolina Panthers, who’ve won the past three NFC South titles.

Some of the key prospects include Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson, Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd, Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland, Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee and Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed.

The Falcons were last in the league with 19 sacks and gave up 20 rushing touchdowns last season. They are hoping to upgrade the talent level on defense.

“One of the cool parts about the system is (all positions) have a pass-rush component to it,” Quinn said. “That’s always going to stay in the front of our thinking.”

Lawson, who led the nation in tackles for loss with 25.5 last season and 12.5 sacks, has a shoulder injury that will require surgery. The Falcons drafted former Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley last season. He played and started 16 games with a torn labrum last season.

Lawson has been in contact with Falcons defensive line coach Bryan Cox throughout the pre-draft process.

Ragland is considered the top middle linebacker in the draft. He returned for his senior season at Alabama after receiving a projected second-round grade before the draft in 2015.

There are draft scenarios which could make the Falcons consider an offensive player, but they plan to still go defense and follow their “needs-based” and “system-specific” plan.

“We’ve looked at all of the different scenarios this year,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “We think the draft has some really good strength from 15 on…we think there are some good opportunities all the way into the third round.”

The Falcons only have five picks. Their fifth-round pick was lost as part of the penalty stemming from the noise gate scandal. They traded their sixth-round pick to Tennessee as part of the Andy Levitre trade.

In addition to improving the defensive front, the Falcons would like to add a safety, guard and tight end in the draft.

“The best part of the draft is finding those fits from what he did in college to what he’s going to do on your team,” Quinn said.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank has said he wants three starters out of the draft. The Falcons can probably land starters at the 17th and 50th slot. The 81st slot in the third round could be problematic for the personnel department.

But the top two picks will be key.

“On the defensive side of the ball, they’ve got to look at those linebackers, and whether it’s Reggie Ragland, Darron Lee, Leonard Floyd, I think are the three logical guys they have to be looking at,” NFL Network analyst Michael Mayock said. “I think what Floyd gives them that the other two don’t, is the ability to play in their base package at one position and kick down to an edge guy in sub package.”

With the pass-rush addressed, the Falcons could go for safety or a guard in the second round.

“There’s some good guards in this draft,” Mayock said. “Nick Martin from Notre Dame is a center or guard, and he can start day one like his older brother (Zach Martin). Cody Whitehair and Josh Garnett are second-round guards.”