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NFL Draft 2017: Top target for each team

By John Buhler

Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Miami Hurricanes at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Takkarist McKinley (98) brings down Arizona Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate (14) during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Takkarist McKinley (98) brings down Arizona Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate (14) during the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlanta Falcons: Takkarist McKinley

As their defense got better of the course of the season, the Atlanta Falcons may return one of the most complete teams in the NFL. They were only a quarter away from winning a Super Bowl. This should be one of the better teams in football next season.

That being said, Atlanta stills needs to find another pass rushing talent to pair alongside All-Pro Vic Beasley. One guy that makes a good bit of sense for the Falcons at No. 31 would be UCLA Bruins defensive end Takkarist McKinley.

UCLA had a down year last year, so McKinley would be hungry to win, especially if he joins a serious Super Bowl contender. In four years in Westwood, McKinley had 99 tackles, 28.0 of them went for a loss of yardage. He had 10.0 of his 16.0 career sacks and six of his 10 passes defended coming in his senior campaign in 2016.

What this illustrates is that McKinley continued to play at a high level once UCLA’s season went down the drain after the Josh Rosen injury. Atlanta will really like a player of McKinley’s caliber who competes through the final whistle.

Since there are a great deal of pass rushers presumably coming off the board at the end of the first round, look for the Falcons to pick their player based on scheme. McKinley may not fit into exactly what Dan Quinn will want in his pass rush, but he could be a good fit with the Falcons at No. 31.

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