Complete 2019 Atlanta Falcons Seven Round Mock Draft
Round 3 Pick 15
Michael Jordan – Center / Guard, Ohio State
The Atlanta Falcons select interior offensive lineman Michael Jordan, with their third round pick in the Atl All Day 2019 NFL Mock Draft. The 6’6, 312 pound center prospect has major college experience playing in and starting all 41 games of his NCAA career. He became the first Buckeye lineman to start as a freshman, since NFL Hall of Famer Orlando Pace did so in 1994. Jordan is a two-time All Big Ten Conference team member, making first team as a sophomore in 2017 and second team as a junior this past season.
Michael Jordan is unusually tall for the center position. However he is extremely flexible, this ability to get his pad level low enough to play the position well. He has a wide body but quick feet to slide and pick up defenders attempting to penetrate into the backfield. He packs a strong initial punch at the snap and is a good drive blocker in the run game. He also has good coordination and timing on combination blocks. The drawback on Jordan is he does not have elite quickness at getting to the next level. His height makes it more difficult for him to shoot out of his stance quickly and also causes him to play too high at times. He also needs to improve his quickness when using his hand movements.
Should the Atlanta Falcons elect to draft Michael Jordan, he would give them an heir apparent to study underneath and learn from Pro Bowl center Alex Mack. Should Jordan prove to be unable to handle the center position, he still projects as a solid NFL guard, having played this position in college. As a guard he is able to use his strength of drive blocking to his advantage. If Michael Jordan is a fraction as good as football player, as the man who made that name famous is a basketball player, the Falcons will have a real steal with his pick. I won’t go as far as to call Alex Mack the Michael Jordan of NFL centers. However Mack is as good as any NFL center for the younger Jordan to learn from. Other third round possibilities include edge rusher Deandre Walker, cornerback Isaiah Johnson and linebacker Germaine Pratt.
Expert Opinion: Lance Zierlein NFL.com
Pro Comparison: Alex Boone
Projection: Round 4
"Center-guard prospect with NFL size and a frame that should add even more mass and muscle. Jordan has rare height for a center but has easy flexibility in his hips, knees and ankles, allowing him to man the position. He’s a little lazy with his hands and might not move well enough for teams asking their interior linemen to get out in space. His 2017 guard tape might be more appealing to teams as he flashed as a drive-blocker. His size and versatility could make him a Day 2 draft pick with starting potential early in his career."