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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.

4. Tampa Bay-O.J. Howard (No. 19 overall)

oj howard
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard goes through workout drills during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay was a bit resurgent in 2016, and this pick of this freakish TE from Alabama won’t impede that progress. In fact, it will most likely help. We hear a lot of phrases like “plug and play” around draft time, and Howard fits the bill.

The reality is that the Bucs now have Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Cameron Brate, and now Howard as weapons for Jameis Winston. That’s stout, and when you look at Carolina and New Orleans still sucking wind on defense, Tampa Bay could remain ascendant in 2017.

Grade: A

Franchise Fit: A

Next: Atlanta Falcons: Focusing on Defensive Improvements

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