2015 NFL Draft grades: Atlanta Falcons select Vic Beasley

With the eighth pick in the 2015 NFL Draft the Atlanta Falcons select Clemson Tigers defensive end/outside linebacker Vic Beasley.

The Atlanta Falcons had a second straight disappointing season after they went 6-10 and head coach Mike Smith lose his job and Dan Quinn hired to replace him as they pick inside the top 10 for a second straight draft.

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Last year, the Falcons took offensive tackle Jake Matthews who looks like a great building block for the offensive line and a player who should be a fixture in Atlanta for years to come. Will this year’s pick follow suit?

With the No. 8 pick in the 2015 draft, the Falcons were expected to take one of the top edge rushers in the draft from a group of players that included Vic Beasley, Shane Ray, Randy Gregory and Bud Dupree. Ray and Gregory have off-the-field issues which narrowed the pool down to Beasley and Dupree as realistic options and then there was the ultimate wild card.

Georgia running back Todd Gurley was a popular choice among many of the Falcons fans in the lead up to the draft. He’s arguably the best talent in the draft but a torn ACL in mid-November prevented him from working out at the combine and Georgia’s pro day and his availability is in question for the start of his rookie year.

Ultimately, when the Falcons were on the clock they had all those players available but decided to take Clemson defensive end Beasley. He is coming off a career that saw him set the Clemson program record with 33 career sacks and has 52 career tackles for loss.

He is a converted running back who will have to play better against the run but he can get to the quarterback off the edge but he is only 246 pounds, so will he be able to maintain that weight and get off a block and get to the bottom of a pile? He can be a great player on third down, but I have my concerns about first and second down.

Grade: B-

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