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Justin Hardy, The Falcons’ Best Steal of the Draft

By John Buhler

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When the Atlanta Falcons selected WR Justin Hardy 107th overall in the 4th Round of the 2015 NFL Draft, I asked myself, “Is this the guy that caught all those passes at ECU for Shane Carden?”  It didn’t take me long to realize that Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn has just selected one of the most prolific pass catchers in College Football history.  At East Carolina, Hardy set an NCAA for career receptions at 387 over four great years of playing football for the Pirates.

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While many would say that getting RB Tevin Coleman out of Indiana in the 3rd Round or DT Grady Jarrett out of Clemson in the 5th Round were draft steals for the Falcons, was selecting Justin Hardy in the 4th actually the Atlanta Falcons’ best steal of the 2015 NFL Draft?

Hardy now joins one of the NFL’s most prolific receiving corps in Atlanta.  He will play with Julio Jones, Roddy White, Devin Hester, and Leonard Hankerson.  All five WRs can make plays for new OC Kyle Shanahan.  In theory Justin Hardy and Leonard Hankerson came to Atlanta to replace the production the team lost when the Falcons released longtime WR Harry Douglas in the offseason.  Douglas, now with the Tennessee Titans, played primarily in the slot for former OC Dirk Koetter, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  With Hardy’s sure hands and route-running ability, he’s a good fit in the slot for Kyle Shanahan.

Like Coleman and Jarrett, Hardy should get ample playing time for the Atlanta Falcons this fall as high-rotational players.  I think Justin Hardy has the better rookie than Grady Jarrett because unless you’re Aaron Donald of the St. Louis Rams, interior lineman need a few seasons to adjust to the NFL’s speed and physicality.

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    • Tevin Coleman could end up the Falcons starting RB if he outperforms Devonta Freeman in Training Camp.  So while Coleman is a sleeper pick for your fantasy teams, I think his 3rd Round selection has more to do with the League’s devaluing of running backs than anything else.  I wouldn’t consider the All-American tailback out of Indiana University as a big of a steal for the Falcons as Justin Hardy because of this league-wide shift in the view of running backs’ perceived value.

    Also, Justin Hardy was a Day Three draft selection as opposed to a Day Two so that adds more value to his selection.  Hardy is walking into a phenomenal situation as an Atlanta WR.  He gets to learn from one of the best position coaches in football: WRs Coach Terry Robiskie.  Justin doesn’t have the pressure to perform right away like Tevin Coleman.  Hardy would be the 3rd to 5th receiver for the Falcons where Coleman is either 1st or 2nd string at running back.

    Justin Hardy will make some big plays for Matt Ryan in the passing game.  His fearlessness of playing in the slot reminds me a little of Roddy White.  Wouldn’t it be crazy if TD drafted White’s ultimate replacement in the 4th Round this year?  Getting a mid-major standout receiver on Day Three just might make Justin Hardy the Atlanta Falcons best steal in a very deep and promising 2015 NFL Draft Class.

    Next: Who Ends Up Starting for the Falcons at Free Safety?

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