2018 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting every first round selection

The Atlanta Falcons came up short once again. This season ended in a less painful fashion than their Super Bowl defeat, but they were one play shy of defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC’s top seed.

The Falcons’ failures this season seemed to stem more from play calling than personnel. If they can get that sorted out the Falcons may be one of the few teams that can afford to take the “best player available”.

Florida State’s Derwin James is one of the most versatile defenders in this draft class. The jack-of-all trades safety is comfortable at the line of scrimmage and playing center field. He’s the type of playmaker that the Falcons could use anywhere on the field. The “where” is up to them, but slotting him in a free safety next to Keanu Neal seems like a natural fit.

The Seminoles’ dismal 2017 campaign did James no favors when it comes to his draft stock, but a regression in pure statistics won’t cause him to fall beyond the first round. Sports Illustrated named James the number one player in college football entering the season. Pro Football Focus graded him as the highest rated safety in the country during both of his healthy seasons at Florida State, 2015 and 2017.