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Atlanta Falcons: 2016 mock draft

By Josh Barnhill

Sep 14, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn (left) celebrates with general manager Thomas Dimitroff (right) following their 26-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn (left) celebrates with general manager Thomas Dimitroff (right) following their 26-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 14, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Nick Vannett (81) makes a catch against Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Taylor Barton (3) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Ohio State defats Illinois 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Champaign, IL, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Nick Vannett (81) makes a catch against Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Taylor Barton (3) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Ohio State defats Illinois 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

3rd Round Pick: TE Nick Vannett, Ohio State

The Falcons need to find another pass catcher to take pressure off Julio Jones.

Long time WR Roddy White is gone, although he slipped the last couple of seasons until he was barely thrown to in 2015. Justin Hardy is a candidate to step up as a number two option but he’s only played one year so we don’t really know for sure.

At TE, Jason Tamme and Levine Toilolo shared time in 2015 but neither was good enough to fend off using a 3rd round pick here.

Nick Vannett is a 6′-6″ 260-pound tight end out of Ohio State. In their national championship season of 2014 he caught 19 balls for 220 yards and five touchdowns. His yards per catch and touchdowns were down in 2015 but he did tally 19 receptions once again.

Pass-catching tight ends are a big deal in today’s NFL. A big target who can make the line to gain on third down and in the red zone. When Matt Ryan had Tony Gonzalez to throw to he was lethal.

You could go TE or WR with this third round pick, but I feel a little more comfortable with the prospects of Hardy than Tamme or Toilolo going forward, so I’d prefer to reach for a TE.

Next: 4th Round

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