2014 DBN Mock Draft: Atlanta Falcons Select OT Jake Matthews at No. 6

With the sixth pick in the 2014 Dawgs By Nature Community Mock Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select...

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

This selection and write-up was made by Haden Dawg:

Looking over the Falcons roster I was really surprised how much help they really need.  Just two years ago they looked like Super Bowl contenders going 13-3, now the roster has some major holes that need to be addressed on a 4-12 team.  I went over to the Falcons site and read through some of their comments regarding the draft over the last few weeks.  Four names kept coming up so much that some commentators have dubbed them "The Falcon Four".  Two of the four are pass rushers, Jadeveon Clowney and Khalil Mack.  The other two are tackles Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews.

First we will address the defense.  The pass rush was horrible last year with the Falcons finishing the year with 32 sacks, good for 29th in the NFL.  The run defense was also a major concern giving up 2,173 yards on the ground averaging 4.8 ypc, good for 31st in the NFL.   Mike Nolan has spoken frequently this off-season about using more multiple fronts and having flexible players for his defense. The team also has a large hole at FS after cutting under-performing Thomas DeCoud.  Taking Clinton-Dix or Pryor this high seems like too big a reach though.

The offensive side of the ball has fewer holes.  The Falcons are set at QB with Matt Ryan and get Julio Jones back after missing the last 11 games last year.  Roddy White should benefit from Julio's return and not being asked to be the number one option anymore.  Stephen Jackson's best years are behind him, but is still entrenched as the starter.  Expect the Falcons to pick up a RB in the middle rounds.  The offensive line is an area that needs to be addressed in the draft.  Current LT Sam Baker was injured last year after signing a huge 6 year/ 41 million dollar contract, and "should" be ready for the start of the 2014 season.  The contract might be a problem with moving Baker to RT with the selection of Matthews. Lamar Holmes is penciled in as the current starter at RT.  Gabe Carimi was also brought in as a free agent after being cut by the Bucs for depth.

The pick that makes the most sense and the player that I select for them is Jake Matthews.  Baker's contract will have to move with him to right tackle.  I view Matthews as the type of player that you can pencil in at left tackle his first day, then forget about having to address that position again for 12 years.  The pass rush (and defense in general) still needs a lot of help, and the only pass rushers left that merited possibly being picked this high were Anthony Barr or Kony Ealy.  They both seem like a reach here though.  I have the Falcons passing on both and looking to bolster the defense with early picks in the second and third rounds.

I'm perplexed with what the Falcons should do in this draft, but I think Haden Dawg did a good job trying to think this through. It would be a bit wild if they took a stab at Sammy Watkins here, because I'd love to see a secondary try to cover Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Watkins, with Matt Ryan throwing them the ball, even if it's just for one year. Ryan is too good of a quarterback for the Falcons to be in the hole again, and keeping him upright with a tackle is a sound move.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are up next, led by Henry Dawg.

2014 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)