Atlanta Falcons looking for defensive help in draft

FLOWERY BRANCH (TNS) — With an eye toward improving the talent level, the Atlanta Falcons revamped their scouting department this offseason.

The first NFL draft under the revised operation is set to start on at 8 p.m. Thursday and run through Saturday in Chicago.

The Falcons hold the 17th pick, 50th (second round), 81st (third), 115th (fourth) and 238th (seventh), tied with the Los Angeles Rams for the fewest picks in the draft.

The Falcons had their fifth-round pick revoked by the league as a part of their penalties for pumping fake crowd noise into the Georgia Dome during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. They traded their sixth-round pick to Tennessee in the Andy Levitre trade.

After recent draft failures and owner Arthur Blank demanding three starters from this draft, the new scouting department faces some extra pressure.

The Falcons added former general managers Ruston Webster and Phil Emery to their scouting department. They moved Dejuan Polk and Bob Kronenberg over to the college scouting department.

Former director of player personnel Lionel Vital left the team on Jan. 17 instead of taking a demotion. He landed with the Dallas Cowboys. Also, Polk, who didn’t want to shift to the college side, went to Jacksonville to become their assistant director of pro personnel.

The Falcons like their options.

“We have a number of players at 17 that we feel really good about,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said.

The Falcons’ draft board is set. They don’t plan to trade out of the 17th position and are leaning toward adding some help for their defense.

“It feels good to know that we have a handful of guys that we seriously think can (help) this team,” Dimitroff said.

Here are the five players on the Falcons’ radar:

Reggie Ragland, inside linebacker, 6-foot-1 1/4 , 247 pounds, Alabama: He’s considered the top middle linebacker in the draft. Ragland, who looked comfortable at strongside linebacker during the Senior Bowl, has loss some weight after showing up at 259 pounds. He returned for his senior season at Alabama after receiving a projected second-round grade before the draft in 2015.

Leonard Floyd, outside linebacker, 6-5 5/8, 235, Georgia: He has excellent pass rushing ability and may be selected in the top 10. “Leonard Floyd is one of my most conflicted players,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. He noted that Floyd gets blocked easily if he doesn’t win with his speed. “That worries me,” he said. Impressed Falcons during private workout in Athens on Saturday.

Darron Lee, outside linebacker, 6-1, 235, Ohio State: He has the range and speed to play in space in the NFL. He was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes. He was recruited as a safety and is one of the linebackers in the draft who could move back and play safety like Falcons coach Dan Quinn pointed out recently.

Shaq Lawson, defensive end, 6-2, 269, Clemson: Lawson led the nation in tackles for loss with 25.5 last season. He also had 12.5 sacks to help the Tigers reach the national championship game. “As many good splash plays as he has had, he has had too many, for me, plays where Shaq looks slow, sluggish and not very competitive,” ESPN front-office insider Louis Riddick said. “Quite honestly, in scouting terms, he looks like just a guy. That concerns me.”

Emmanuel Ogbah, defensive end, 6-4, 273, Oklahoma State: He is one of the most prolific pass rushers in the draft with 28 sacks in three seasons with the Cowboys. Critics contend that he amassed his sacks against average tackles and that he needs to learn how to play against the run.

Sleeper scenario:Jarran Reed, defensive tackle, 6-3, 307, Alabama: Played the run well as he led Alabama defensive linemen in tackles each of the last two seasons. The Falcons are impressed with Reed. He started his career at Hargrave Military Academy and went the junior college route. He’s very strong and can bench-press 500 pounds.