NFL Draft 2015: 5 best team draft classes

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons entered the 2015 NFL Draft with a variety of needs, but there was one glaring hole on the roster that emerged of the rest, and the team filled that need with a top-10 selection. Clemson pass-rusher Vic Beasley may be the best and most explosive pure pass-rusher in this class, and if not for concerns about his size, he likely would have been off the board at this point. There is certainly concern about his ability in run defense, but Atlanta simply needed someone to get to the quarterback, and he fits the bill.

Later in the draft, the Falcons picked up two players that I love in Indiana running back Tevin Coleman (3rd round) and Clemson defensive lineman Grady Jerrett (5th round). Frankly, it was a bit of a shock that either player was available when they were selected, and Coleman may have the inside track to receive the first carry of the season in the Falcons backfield. Jerrett poses size concerns, which explains his draft fall, but getting a quality rotational player in the fifth round helps this class a lot.

The team’s other two “main” selections, LSU cornerback Jalen Collins (2nd round) and East Carolina wide receiver Justin Hardy (4th round) both have a chance to see the field for significant snaps in year one. Beyond that, Collins is an interesting player in that his stock dropped a bit due to off-field issues, and with ideal size in a Dan Quinn system, he could supplant incumbent Robert Alford by Week 1.

The Falcons have had a brutal stretch of two seasons, but their first draft since the arrival of Dan Quinn was an unequivocal success.

Next: Chicago Bears