With the number 68 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected safety Dezmen Southward out of Wisconsin.
This wasn’t a surprising pick for the Falcons at all, as one of the needs Atlanta has it to replace Thomas DeCoud in the secondary. Southward has a lot of upside, and has a perfect frame for strong safety. He’ll be a great compliment to William Moore playing at the other safety position for Atlanta.
Make no mistake, Southward is still fairly raw and will take some coaching and polish, but he could turn out to be even better than DeCoud given time. At 6’0 and 210 lbs, he’s got perfect size for manning the middle of the defensive secondary.
He’ll be certain to make a mark on special teams for the Falcons, as he’s a very physical player who loves to hit. He played a record 54 straight games for the Badgers, so durability has never been a question with Southward.
This is a nice pick for Atlanta, who had already addressed needs at offensive and defensive line with their first two picks of the draft. It’s shaping up to be a very productive draft for the Falcons who are looking to rebound for a horrible 2013 season.