Kevin Dodd: Atlanta Falcons draft profile

Kevin Dodd had a huge game for Clemson in the National Championship against Alabama. Might the Atlanta Falcons take the Clemson defensive end at No. 17?

While other players on Brent Venables’ vaunted Clemson Tigers defense like defensive end Shaq Lawson, safety Jayron Kearse, and cornerback Mackensie Alexander were already on many NFL teams’ draft radars, it was the outstanding play of defensive end Kevin Dodd in the Tigers’ National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide that really moved general managers’ heads.

Dodd, like the other three standouts from the Clemson defense, will enter the 2016 NFL Draft a year early. Keep in mind Clemson had to replace 10 of its 11 starters on defense entering 2015 and did just fine.

However, we may have seen something special from Kevin Dodd in the National Title. He showcased an ability to both run stuff and get after the passer, playing off fellow defensive end Shaq Lawson for Clemson on Monday night. ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. has Dodd slated to go to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 17 in the 2016 NFL Draft. Would Atlanta double down on Clemson pass rushers in consecutive years in the Draft?

More from NFL Draft

I had been critical of the Atlanta Falcons front office going after players from the same institution in consecutive years in the first round. Atlanta drafted All-American defensive end Vic Beasley out of Clemson at No. 8 in the 2015 NFL Draft. Sometimes it’s difficult to discern talent from system and it’s too early to know if Venables’ defense at Clemson is chock full of blue chip prospects or if he is just able to put his players in opportune situations to succeed.

While Alexander, Kearse, and Lawson are all early entrants, too, there was something about Kevin Dodd’s play on Monday night that makes me want to see the Atlanta Falcons highly consider him at No. 17.

Alabama has one of the best offensive lines in college football. Dodd effortlessly got after Crimson Tide quarterback Jacob Coker, as well as prevented Heisman Trophy winner running back Derrick Henry from getting hardly anything at all north to south in the running game. It wasn’t the Clemson front seven that lost the National Championship for the Tigers. The Tigers’ front seven look arguably better than the Crimson Tide’s and Kevin Dodd was a huge reason for that.

Dodd is 6’4″, 275 pounds, was an ACC All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2015, and finished with 23.5 tackles for a loss of yardage, behind only teammate Shaq Lawson in the country. Kevin Dodd also had 12.0 sacks in 2015, second on Clemson behind Lawson again.

Along with Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, nobody’s draft stock elevated more from the National Championship Game than did Kevin Dodd’s. He now seems like sure-fire first round pick in this spring’s NFL Draft.

What could make him more attractive to the Atlanta Falcons is that they could still probably get him if they were to trade back a few draft spots, getting Dodd in the early 20s, while picking up another draft selection. Atlanta needs picks badly in 2016, as the Falcons only have five picks in the 2016 NFL Draft (first through fourth rounds and a seventh).

Dodd may not have the quickness of Lawson, but he did show up in the biggest game of his life on Monday night. The front seven of Clemson halted Derrick Henry better than anybody had done all year. It was the Clemson secondary and special teams that cost the Tigers the game in the end.

Next: Shaq Lawson: Atlanta Falcons draft profile

The Atlanta Falcons are certainly going to go with a defensive player in the first round. Since there is a premium on safeties, I would expect the Falcons to go with somebody to aid their club in the front seven. Kevin Dodd is definitely one of those players to consider. He is absolutely climbing up draft boards this week, but Dodd does present a viable option for the Atlanta Falcons in the late teens.

Home/NFL Draft