NFL power rankings: 32-team breakdown after the 2018 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
Best Pick: WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Outside the Atlanta Falcons’ top pick, it’s hard to be a major fan of their NFL Draft class. Hence the drop in our NFL power rankings.
On one hand, Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley (No. 26 overall) should absolutely thrive alongside fellow wideout Julio Jones and with Matt Ryan under center. The Falcons offense should bounce back a bit after a so-so year in 2017, and this only benefits Ridley. He’ll benefit Atlanta too, and in a big way.
But the team’s biggest need, by far, was an interior defensive tackle. Particularly with defenders Dontari Poe and Adrian Clayborn leaving in free agency.
Instead of looking at some quality defensive linemen in Round 2, the Falcons went ahead and grabbed Colorado cornerback Isaiah Oliver at No. 58 overall. Not that Oliver is a bad selection, but where/when would he play? He won’t push out veteran cornerbacks Desmond Trufant or Robert Alford anytime soon.
Atlanta added defensive tackle Deadrin Senat out of South Florida in Round 3, but they needed to do more and earlier at this position.