6. WR Julio Jones A

I’m not hating the Falcons move to move up as much as everyone seems to be. After Jones, this wide receiver class falls off a cliff and what did they really give up? They gave up the 27^th pick, a future first which will probably be in the late 20s again, their 2^nd, and 2 4ths. That’s worth it in my book and Jones fills a huge need for the Falcons, getting a receiver opposite Roddy White.

91. MLB Akeem Dent F

A middle linebacker? That wasn’t a need. I had a 7^th round grade on Dent too. How about a pass rusher? Some offensive line help. Really anything over this one.

145. RB Jacquizz Rodgers A

Rodgers was a great value here and fits their needs like a glove. Michael Turner can’t pass catch and he’s wearing down. Rodgers has the speed and pass catching ability to compliment Michael Turner and Jason Snelling.

192. P Matt Bosher D

I didn’t have Bosher as my top rated punter. He wasn’t even close. He was the only punter drafted, so it’s ridiculous they would take a punter before a single tight end, defensive end, or offensive lineman.

210. G Andrew Jackson A

Both of their starting guards are free agents so depth was definitely needed here. Jackson fits the scheme like a glove and he is a good value at this point.

230. DE Casey Matthews A

Defensive end was one of their biggest needs after wide receiver and Matthews is a good value at this point. I wish they would have addressed this earlier.

Overall:

I actually really like their decision to move up for Julio Jones. They did give up a lot, but they didn’t need 5 players. They needed one really good player and Jones, my 4^th overall prospect, fits that description. Jones is well coached and NFL ready coming out of Nick Saban’s Alabama program. He gives them speed in their receiving corps to compliment Roddy White, arguably the best pure possession receiver in the league. Remember, they didn’t complete a pass longer than 46 yards last year and that lack of big play ability made to tough for them to come back against Green Bay and Philadelphia, two teams with big time big play ability. He’s also going to help their running game as a blocker and this offense is built on the run. That’s worth what they gave up, which was two late first rounders, a 2^nd, and 2 4ths. However, after giving up their 2^nd rounder, they really needed to get an impact defensive end in the 3^rd round. I think that was their last chance to do so, to give them a pass rusher opposite John Abraham. They didn’t do that. Instead, they reached big time for a middle linebacker that they didn’t need. They made up for that with some nice picks late. I think Jacquizz Rodgers fits their needs like a glove and gives their offense a much needed extra dimension as a breakaway back with pass catching abilities. Andrew Jackson gives them valuable depth at guard and Casey Matthews, as an end, was a good value in the 7^th. However, I don’t think they got a future starter at end out of this class, someone to spell Kroy Bierrmann on passing downs and to take over for John Abraham when his time comes. I also don’t understand the Matt Bosher pick. Only one punter was drafted this year and there’s a reason for that. With the lockout postponing free agency, teams had so many other things to worry about. I also didn’t think Bosher was even close to being the top punter in this class.

Grade: B