2019 NFL Draft: Projected First Round after NFL Combine

Houston’s Ed Oliver remains one of the most talented players in this class, and the Falcons would be overjoyed to see him slip to No. 14. Oliver is one of the five most talented players in this draft class, but he comes with some baggage concerning his character and injury past that could cause him to slip some, particularly in a class loaded with elite defensive line talent.

I can’t see him slipping past the Falcons regardless of who else might conceivably be available. Atlanta had one of the NFL’s worst run defenses last season, and Oliver could immediately upgrade it as a rookie.

Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett is a free-agent, and while it remains likely that the Falcons will get a long-term deal done with the talented Clemson product, they still need someone alongside him up front.

The Falcons have a talented enough roster to jump back toward NFC contention in 2019 if they can upgrade their defense; Atlanta ranked 31st in defensive DVOA in 2018, bottoming out after showing improvement in the early goings of the Dan Quinn era.

An edge rusher like Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell and Florida’s Jachai Polite could be appealing as well, particularly if the team moves on from Vic Beasley this offseason. There are holes at every level of the defense, so targeting the best defensive player available with this pick makes the most sense, regardless of position.

Oliver fits that bill, and has the long-term potential to be an All-Pro down the road.