Atlanta Falcons Potential First Round Pick: Ed Oliver

The Atlanta Falcons will pick #14 in the 2019 NFL draft. Today starts a series in which I will look at potential fits for the Dirty Birds at number 14, starting with Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver.

Ed Oliver is a 6’3 290 pound defensive tackle from the University of Houston. He’s been extremely productive, notching 192 tackles, 122 solo, in three seasons. He’s also sacked the quarterback 13.5 times in his NCAA career. He’s been mocked to the Atlanta  Falcons in several mock Drafts, including the latest Pro Football Focus mock.

Ed Oliver was named to the All American Athletic Conference first team all three years of his career. He’s only the fourth player in conference history to be selected to the first team three times. The conference website posted this article announcing their award winners for 2018.

Ed Oliver was the AAC Freshman of the Year in 2016. He followed that to by being named the AAC defensive player of the year for the 2017 season.

Nationally Oliver won the Bill Willis Trophy as the nation’s top defensive lineman as a freshman in 2016. In 2017 he won the Outland Trophy which recognizes the best interior lineman in the NCAA. He was also named as a First Team All American every year of his college career.