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Atlanta Falcons: NFC South Draft Round 1 Grades & Notes

By W. M. Lawson

Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Takkarist McKinley (UCLA) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he holds a photo of his grandmother as he is selected as the number 26 overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Takkarist McKinley (UCLA) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as he holds a photo of his grandmother as he is selected as the number 26 overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Falcons made a move in the first round of the NFL Draft, and in doing so, kept pace with the rest of the NFC South.

3. New Orleans-Marshon Lattimore (No. 11 overall), Ryan Ramczyk (No. 32 overall)

lattimore
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State) is selected as the number 11 overall pick to the New Orleans Saints in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The New Orleans Saints did something that, in theory, is hard to argue. Namely, they improved both sides of the ball with quality players and picks. But much like Carolina, I’m not sure they chose as wisely as they could’ve. Marshon Lattimore was a no-brainer. Dude probably is the best corner in a loaded draft for secondary positions. And let’s face it…New Orleans was god-awful on defense in 2016. And the NFC South slings it.

That said, while Ryan Ramczyk is a quality offensive lineman, and will ostensibly help protect Drew Brees, he doesn’t play defense. My main gripe here is that there were other game changing defensive players out there…and they left them out there. Offense wasn’t the problem last year.

Grade: B-

Franchise Fit: B

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