2017 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting First Three Rounds before Scouting Combine

Continuing to build out the front seven is a sound strategy for the Falcons if they want to return to the Super Bowl next season. After taking a talented edge rusher in Harris with their first pick, taking a defensive lineman here would be a smart move.

Iowa’s Jaleel Johnson is an intriguing prospect who has gone relatively overlooked out of Iowa. He has nice size for an interior D-lineman at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds. He does a great job keeping his arms extended and staying low so that he can’t get washed out by blockers. While he doesn’t explode off of the line of scrimmage, he has a nice bull rush and could be a great rotational piece on Atlanta’s defensive line.

The offensive line for the Patriots showed some signs of weakness during the AFC playoff run, so adding an offensive tackle could be relatively high on the list of priorities. Florida State’s Roderick Johnson could be a nice pick to end the second round.

Johnson’s length is the first thing to stand out when turning on the tape. At 6-foot-7 and 311 pounds, Johnson possesses some extremely long arms that allows him to stay in front of pass rushers. He has some questionable balance and can struggle when blocking on outside runs, but he’s a big body with a lot of physical tools. New England’s coaching staff could help turn him into a more than serviceable tackle down the road.