2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round after pro days, trades
Defensive Tackle. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 26. player. 44. Florida. Taven Bryan
Needs: OG, DL WR
The Atlanta Falcons have an owner who cares about the city of Atlanta and his franchise in Arthur Blank and he’s in full support of head football coach Dan Quinn. Quinn led the Falcons to the Super Bowl two seasons ago and the core nucleus of that team is still in tact. The Falcons need a few finishing touches to stay in the elite level of the NFL and one could come from drafting a play making defensive tackle up to Quinn’s high standards.
Taven Bryan will be that defensive tackle. A former Florida Gator, Bryan is 6-foot-4 and 291 pounds out of Casper, Wyoming of all places. Bryan tested really well for a near 300 pound lineman running a 4.98 in the 40 yard dash and a 4.48 in the 20 yard shuttle. He put up 30 reps of 225 in the bench press, and measured a 35 inch vertical jump and 11 inch broad jump.
Bryan has NFL caliber explosiveness in his hips and has learned really solid technique down in Gainesville. NFL.com grades him out as an instant starter and that’s what the Falcons need in a first round draft pick.