Falcons Grab Skill Position On Defense For Second Pick

ARLINGTON, TX — The Atlanta Falcons went defense with their second pick in the 2018 draft, selecting Corner Back Isaiah Oliver, from Colorado.

The Atlanta Falcons surprised a lot of people with their first pick of the 2018 draft, selecting Wide Receiver Calvin Ridley from Alabama. Ridley was only the second receiver off the board, with Maryland's D.J. Moore going first.

The Falcons selected Ridley at pick No. 26 in Thursday’s NFL draft, which started at 8 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and airs on ESPN.

The Falcons finished 10-6 last season, good enough for a Wild Card berth, beating the Rams 26-13. The Falcons were knocked out of the playoffs, however, by the eventual Super Bowl winning Eagles, in the Divisional Playoff game, 10-15.

Last season's pro bowlers were: WR Julio Jones, C Alex Mack, LB Deion Jones and S Keanu Neal.

With no glaring holes to fill, look for the Falcons to develop depth. Expert mock drafts were projecting Atlanta picks like Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan; D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland; Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia; and Taven Bryan, DT, Florida.

The draft will open with one of the deepest quarterback classes in years, which is good news for the Cleveland Browns, who pick No. 1 overall and have had disaster after disaster “leading” their team to disappointing season after disappointing season. That left the only mystery which quarterback they would choose.

Available:

• Sam Darnold, USC. 6-foot-3 3/8, 221 pounds.
• Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma. 6-0 3/4, 216 pounds.
• Josh Allen, Wyoming. 6-4 7/8, 237 pounds.
• Lamar Jackson, Louisville. 6-2 1/4, 216 pounds.
• Josh Rosen, UCLA. 6-4, 226 pounds.

The Browns also hold the No. 4 pick, leaving open the possibility they would eye a one-two offensive punch of their QB pick teamed with Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, considered by most the No. 1 backfield prospect.

A number of defensive standouts were on the top-picks list, too, which left teams jockeying to see who might land that game-changing pass rusher or shut-down defensive back.
After Thursday’s first round, the draft resumes Friday for rounds 2-3, and then again at noon on Saturday.

Here’s Sports Illustrated’s rundown of top overall players available on the board:

1. SAQUON BARKLEY, RB, PENN STATE
2. SAM DARNOLD, QB, USC
3. BRADLEY CHUBB, EDGE, NORTH CAROLINA STATE
4. QUENTON NELSON, G, NOTRE DAME
5. JOSH ALLEN, QB, WYOMING
6. MINKAH FITZPATRICK, S, ALABAMA
7. BAKER MAYFIELD, QB, OKLAHOMA
8. JOSH ROSEN, QB, UCLA
9. DENZEL WARD, CB, OHIO STATE
10. ROQUAN SMITH, STACK LB, GEORGIA

Here are all picks by round, pick and overall selection.

• 1-26-26 WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
• 2-26-58 CB Isaiah Oiver, Colorado
• 3-26-90 Atlanta
• 4-26-126 Atlanta
• 6-26-200 Atlanta
• 7-26-244 Atlanta
• 7-38-256 Atlanta (Compensatory Selection)

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Divisional Round - Atlanta Falcons v Philadelphia Eagles
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 13: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons looks to pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 13, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.