NFL Mock Draft: Deshaun Watson falling

What a season it has been for the Atlanta Falcons, who appear to have the firepower on offense to make a deep run in 2016. Quarterback Matt Ryan is playing some of the best football of his career, and Julio Jones is an absolute monster on the outside.  Their offense can play with anybody, but far too often we see the Falcons defense giving up yards in chunks throughout the game.

The team is dying for a dominant defensive lineman, and that player could be UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley. McKinley is a fast-rising prospect in the 2017 draft class, and it is his explosiveness that really separates him from the pack. He is very long and athletic, which makes him a prototypical pass rusher at the next level.

The Bruins are in the midst of a very bad season, but McKinley has been dominant throughout. He has incredible closing speed for a guy his size, and his combination of strength and speed will play well at the next level. The Falcons are a contender, and one or two pieces on their defense could keep them there for a long time.