Kenny Lawler: Atlanta Falcons draft profile

Kenny Lawler was a favorite target of Cal’s Jared Goff in 2015. Will the Atlanta Falcons consider taking the former Golden Bear No. 50 overall in the draft?

Kenny Lawler was a fantastic pass catcher for the California Golden Bears in the Pac-12 in 2015. Lawler was a favorite target of fellow early entrant to the 2016 NFL Draft in Cal quarterback Jared Goff, as Lawler had 52 catches for 658 yards and 13 touchdown receptions.

With the Atlanta Falcons trying to figure out what the future of their wide receiving corps holds beyond All-Pro superstar wideout Julio Jones, might the Atlanta Falcons take the big time receiver out of the Pac-12 with their No. 50 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

At 6’3″, 195 pounds, Kenny Lawler has the frame to become a very physical wide receiver in the National Football League. While he may not have the amount of talent at wide receiver as Julio Jones (who does, honestly?), Lawler could stand as a big time playmaker for the Atlanta Falcons on the outside starting opposite of Jones in 2016.

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He’s similar in stature and physicality to Atlanta Falcons great Roddy White, whose status with the team is up in the air in 2016, though he is under contract. At this stage of White’s career, he’s better suited to play inside as a slot receiver so that he can use his brilliant route running and great hands to make plays as a possession receiver.

Though the Atlanta Falcons did draft NCAA record holder pass catcher Justin Hardy in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Hardy projects as a high-end slot receiver in the NFL. While Hardy could certainly learn to play outside, Atlanta likely needs to get one more great pass catcher for starting quarterback Matt Ryan.

Like Ryan, Goff threw a very catchable ball for Lawler and his impressive 2015 touchdown total showcases that Kenny Lawler is more than capable of making the big play when it counts at wide receiver.

Could Kenny Lawler become the next great wideout to come out of Cal since the San Diego Chargers’ Keenan Allen? Or is Lawler just benefitting from the aerial attack that Cal head coach Sonny Dykes runs in Berkeley? Lawler did finish as a redshirt junior with 27 career touchdown passes playing for the Golden Bears.

With former defensive passing game coordinator Raheem Morris transitioning to the new wide receivers coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Morris may want general manager Thomas Dimitroff to select a sure-handed pass catcher like Kenny Lawler at No. 50.

It didn’t seem like the Atlanta Falcons were going to go with a wide receiver until probably round three, as the defensive front seven and center are more pressing issues for the club heading into 2016, but with a new wide receivers coach, a downtick in the passing game’s effectiveness in 2015, and Roddy White’s declining skill set, then it might make sense for the Falcons to select Kenny Lawler at No. 50 if they choose to draft a wide receiver in round two.

Not playing in the Senior Bowl, as Lawler is only a redshirt junior, puts more of an emphasis on how he performs both at the NFL Scouting Combine and at Cal’s Pro Day in the coming weeks.

Atlanta may like Lawler’s durability as he played at least 11 games in each of his three seasons with the California Golden Bears. The Falcons have a difficult time from their wide receiving corps staying healthy in 2015. Availability is the best ability in football.

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Lawler has proven that he can thrive playing in arguably the deepest conference in college football in the Pac-12, a conference that sent 10 of its 12 teams to bowl games in 2015. Given that the Atlanta Falcons have made two relatively risky draft selections with their last two second round picks, defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman out of Minnesota in 2014 and cornerback Jalen Collins out of LSU in 2015, drafting Kenny Lawler in the second round at No. 50 seems more of a sure thing that what Atlanta got in the last two second rounds. Kenny Lawler is definitely a wide receiver the Atlanta Falcons should consider at No. 50.

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