2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 27

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the Atlanta Falcons, at No. 27 overall.

Dave Choate of TheFalcoholic.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Falcons, and checking out The Falcoholic for all of your Falcons needs.

Dave Choate explains: Justin Houston is a perfect fit for the Atlanta Falcons, who need pass rush help desperately. Though a bit of a project, Houston’s got great athleticism and a nose for the quarterback that should help push him into the rotation at defensive end immediately. And hey, he’s a local kid!

Most importantly, he becomes the heir apparent to John Abraham. One of his generation’s finest sack masters, Abraham is on the wrong side of 30 and his contract is up after 2011. The team has long been in need of an effective complement to him and someone who can take his place should he not return to Atlanta, and Houston looks like he could be that guy.

Dan Kadar reacts: Ideally, the Falcons might want to see Florida guard/center Mike Pouncey available with this pick. After an interior lineman, a pass rusher makes sense. While Houston may be a better fit in a 3-4 system, he does come from a 4-3 at Georgia. During the draft process, he’s become a little underrated. But he has solid pass rush moves and could learn a lot from a player like Abraham, as the two are pretty similar in build and style. [Justin Houston Scouting Report]