Niner Noise
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2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 mock after flurry of NFL trade deadline deals

By Peter Panacy

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 31: Clelin Ferrell #99 of the Clemson Tigers holds the Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP trophy after the Clemson Tigers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-0 turnover win the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 31: Clelin Ferrell #99 of the Clemson Tigers holds the Fiesta Bowl offensive MVP trophy after the Clemson Tigers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 31-0 turnover win the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

44. . Defensive End. Clemson. Clelin Ferrell. 19. player

The Atlanta Falcons might be underachieving a bit this season, but that provides an opportunity to get a much higher pick in the NFL Draft in 2018 and add to an already young-and-talented roster.

Especially on defense.

Safety is probably a need here, although there isn’t a lot of value between this point and the second round. But head coach Dan Quinn loves pass-rushers, and Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell is about the best one available at this point.

Yes, Atlanta already has EDGE Vic Beasley and the interior pass-rushing presence of Takkarist McKinley. But tabbing a player like Ferrell would make Atlanta’s defensive strength that much better, easing the pressure on a secondary needing improvement.