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Reggie Ragland: Atlanta Falcons draft profile

By John Buhler

Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 41-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 41-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Reggie Ragland is the marquee player on the 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide defense. Might the inside linebacker go to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 17 in the draft?

The Atlanta Falcons will have the No. 17 overall pick the 2016 NFL Draft. Atlanta finished with the seventh best record in the NFC, so only three non-playoff teams in the AFC (the Indianapolis Colts, the Buffalo Bills, and the New York Jets) will have a worse pick than the Falcons of the 20 teams whose season has already ended.

Atlanta only has five picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, as the Falcons lost their fifth round pick to the embarrassing Noisegate scandal and their year’s sixth round pick belongs to the Tennessee Titans because of the Andy Levitre trade. While we should expect the Atlanta Falcons to actively build their roster in free agency to account for the lack of draft picks, they will need to hit on all four of their first round picks.

One player the Atlanta Falcons should target in the first round with their No. 17 overall pick is inside linebacker Reggie Ragland out of the University of Alabama. Raglan is a the senior leader of the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide defense that is playing for a National Championship on January 11th. He is the No. 15 overall prospect and the No. 1 inside linebacker according to CBSSports.com, a perfect spot for around where the Atlanta Falcons are picking.

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Though the Atlanta Falcons improved a great deal defensive in 2015, head coach Dan Quinn will still look to improve his club on that side of the ball, particularly up the middle, as safety and inside linebacker are the Falcons’ two most glaring needs on defense.

Like most inside linebackers, Reggie Ragland projects as a great run stuffer and a guy capable of lining up the defense. However, he like most guys at his position plays better moving forward than backwards, as he have concerns in pass coverage.

The SEC is full of great players that will star in the NFL and Ragland is the best prospect in 2016 of the Alabama defense. Part of Atlanta’s post-2012 demise was the inability to draft well and put together a solid linebacking corps. Paul Worrilow has largely outperformed his expectations as a former undrafted free agent out of Delaware, but for Atlanta to take the next step defensively, the Falcons will want to bolster the inside linebacker position with a player of Reggie Ragland’s caliber.

The only concern about selecting Reggie Ragland in the first round is if he will fall to No. 17. Atlanta simply cannot afford to move up in the draft, as they only have five picks this year. What I would do is hope that Ragland slips down two spots from his No. 15 grade and lands in Atlanta.

Should he go a few picks earlier than 17th, Atlanta could target another inside defensive player (linebacker, safety) or their choosing or perhaps drop back a few spots and take a much-needed draft pick from a playoff team in a later round.

Next: Atlanta Falcons: Final 2015 NFC Power Rankings

As much as Reggie Ragland is an ideal fit for the No. 17 pick for the 2016 Atlanta Falcons, the front office should wisely not move up from 17 at all costs. It is better to build through the draft than through free agency.

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