Atlanta Falcons: 5 wide receivers to consider drafting
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Falcons will probably target a wide receiver in the second to fourth rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft. Here are five wideouts they should consider.
The Atlanta Falcons have some cap space, but will still try to build their roster through the 2016 NFL Draft, even though they only have five selections to make. While the Atlanta Falcons are almost certainly going to target a defensive front seven at No. 17 in the first round, do expect the team to target a wide receiver in rounds two through four.
Arguably the most disappointing part of the 2015 Atlanta Falcons was that their once elite wide receivers group became largely pedestrian outside of All-Pro Julio Jones. New offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan struggled to get his wideouts to adjust from former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter’s Air Coryell to his West Coast system. Quarterback Matt Ryan completed almost all of his passes to either Jones or Pro Bowl running back Devonta Freeman, as he never looked comfortable in his first year in the West Coast offense.
While fourth round pick out of East Carolina University in wide receiver Justin Hardy came along just fine in his rookie season, the Atlanta Falcons will need more than a strong sophomore season from the former standout collegiate wide receiver to get this aerial attack back on track.
It seems so obvious, but if the Atlanta Falcons are going to use one of their five draft picks this spring on a skill position player, one has to believe that another wide receiver is coming to Flowery Branch. If the Atlanta Falcons are thinking that way, as they should, here are five wide receivers the organization should consider drafting in the middle of the 2016 NFL Draft.
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