In the first round of the SB Nation writers mock draft, the Falcons addressed their need at pass rusher by selecting Nebraska's Randy Gregory. In the second round, Dave Choate of The Falcoholic continues to bolster Atlanta's defense with DB Eric Rowe out of Utah.
2015 NFL mock draft: Eric Rowe to Atlanta Falcons at No. 42
If and when Atlanta addresses the pass rush in the first round, where does the team go in the second round? Maybe the secondary with a versatile athlete.
42. Falcons: Eric Rowe, CB/S, Utah
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Choate: This might not be the ideal time to take Rowe, but he offers such an intriguing skill set for Dan Quinn’s defense that I couldn’t help myself. Simply put, Rowe offers the length, athleticism and aggressiveness to be a force in the secondary.
Whether Rowe sticks at cornerback or moves to safety is an open question, but I tend to agree with Bleacher Report’s Scott Carasik that he could be a nice fit for free safety in the Falcons’ system. They currently have Charles Godfrey penciled in there, so getting a rangy, tall safety prospect would help in 2015 and beyond, and at worst he’s a useful cornerback for a team lacking the height Quinn covets.
Dan Kadar, SBNation.com: This is slightly early for Rowe, but he plays at a highly sought-after position. With so many teams needing coverage safeties, it won’t be a surprise to see him go this high in the draft. At Utah, Rowe played both cornerback and safety, but I view him as a safety. Rowe has good size and can stick with bigger receivers and tight ends in man coverage. He has good instincts to make a play on the ball and is a sound tackler. Rowe’s footwork is sketchy at times, but it’s a coachable flaw.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 30. Paul Dawson, LB, TCU
- 32. P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
- 33. Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
- 38. Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
- 39. Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi State
Falcons picks
- 1-8: Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
- 2-41: Eric Rowe, CB/S, Utah
That's it for Thursday's picks. We'll be back at 9 a.m. Friday with Dawgs By Nature, who are making the third pick for the Cleveland Browns.
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