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2017 NFL Mock Draft: South Beach has a new QB

By Erik Lambert

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) attempts to throw the ball against the Michigan State Spartans during the first quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) attempts to throw the ball against the Michigan State Spartans during the first quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) hits Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason (10) causing a fumble recovered by Tennessee for a touchdown during the fourth quarter at Sanford Stadium. Tennessee defeated Georgia 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

27. Atlanta Falcons

DE. Tennessee. Derek Barnett . 27. player. 44. Very few people expected such a start for the Atlanta Falcons in 2016. Behind an outstanding offense with playmakers on the ground and in the air, they’ve been racking up points and yards like a pinball machine. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is rising up head coaching boards while Matt Ryan and Julio Jones ascend as one of the greatest passing tandems of the modern era. This however cannot and should not cloud the bigger issue. <p>Despite the offensive success, the situation on defense is a worrisome one. It’s given up a lot of yards and points as well. The most troubling part is the same one that has bedeviled this team for years: the pass rush. To date they have exactly four sacks on the season. Four. Considering Denver leads the league with 17, that speaks to just how inept that front seven is. This could be a problem that really haunts Atlanta moving forward.</p> <p>Vic Beasley has yet to live up to his billing as a top 10 pick. No one wants to use the dreaded “bust” word yet but he’s running out of time. Either way the Falcons have to do something to fix this problem. Drafting another pass rusher would be the obvious course. Derek Barnett of Tennessee has a much more NFL-type build. He’s a strong, aggressive defensive end whose consistent approach enables him to get into the backfield with alarming regularity.</p>

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