2019 NFL Mock Draft: How high will Kyler Murray go in projected first round?

It’s ridiculous that the dreaded character concerns might push Ed Oliver down draft boards, but the Falcons are thrilled to see it, and it’s unlikely his slide falls further than Atlanta’s pick at No. 14.

On a purely talent standpoint, Oliver is without question one of the five best prospects in this draft class. He has the potential to be a huge difference maker at defensive tackle at the next level, flashing the potential to be a dominant interior disruptor like Aaron Donald and Fletcher Cox.

Oliver’s sack numbers at Houston don’t jump off the paper, but he was constantly double and triple-teamed at Houston as the focal point of opposing gameplans week in and week out throughout his three-year collegiate career.

Some were disappointed by Oliver’s production in 2018, but even in a year marred by injuries that saw him play only eight games, he still managed a whopping 14.5 tackles-for-loss, bringing his three-year total with the Cougars to an astonishing 53 in his 32 game career.

The Falcons will be in search of defensive upgrades this offseason after slippage on that side of the ball caused them to miss the playoffs in 2019. Atlanta ranked 31st in defensive DVOA, and made some major coaching changes in what could be Dan Quinn’s final stand if the Falcons miss the postseason for a second year in a row.

The offensive talent is there for Atlanta to be a legitimate NFC contender if they can make the requisite upgrades on defense. Stud defensive tackle Grady Jarrett is a free agent, but it’s unlikely that the Falcons will let Jarrett walk regardless of the price-tag. Even if he returns the need is evident for someone to go alongside him in the middle.

Adding Oliver to a defensive line with Jarrett and edge rusher Takk McKinley, with a healthy Deion Jones and Keanu Neal in 2019, could be just what the Falcons need to jump back into Super Bowl contention.