National Football League

Falcons win with value, fit from 3 early-round draft picks

Published May. 2, 2015 12:49 a.m. ET

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Three picks into the 2015 NFL draft, one thing can be said about Atlanta's picks.

The Falcons have done very well in terms of value for each of their new additions.

No one could have guaranteed prior to Thursday that pass-rush specialist Vic Beasley would be available at No. 8 for the Falcons. In fact, general manager Thomas Dimitroff said the team was extremely happy Beasley fell to them at the eighth spot.

Cornerback Jalen Collins had some first-round grades, but fell in the draft for multiple reasons. Not only did doctors find a crack in his foot at the combine, but news broke that Collins had tested positive for drugs three times while at LSU. Collins fell out of the first round as 41 teams passed on his services before Atlanta called his name.

After Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon were taken in the first round, some had Indiana's Tevin Coleman as the best running back on the board. But he fell into the third round -- and watched T.J. Yeldon and Ameer Abdullah come off the board ahead of him -- where the Falcons snapped him up quickly.

While value was apparent for all three, their fit with new head coach Dan Quinn's system was even more evident.

Beasley should come in and instantly compete for (and likely win) a hybrid linebacker/defensive end spot that Quinn's former team, the Seattle Seahawks, used to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He'll likely win the job as Atlanta's LEO and pin his ears back and attack the passer.

"The biggest thing that we saw was all the things that he [Beasley] could do to help our team, to help our defense, the way he plays, the style, the speed and how fast he plays [and] get turnovers," said Quinn. "So, it was really clear for me to see how he would fit in with our defense."

Collins made an impression almost instantly when he succinctly described his style of play.

"I'm a big corner that likes to hit people," said the 6-foot-2 defensive back from LSU. "I like to jam receivers up, I'm physical and that's been my nature since I was knee high. Coming from the SEC, LSU, playing physical is all I know."

Quinn said speed and length stood out to him when watching film on Collins. And even though Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford are already entrenched as starters for the Atlanta defense at cornerback, there will be plenty of playing time for the rookie.

More than 50 percent of today's games in the NFL are played in a nickel package with an extra defensive back on the field, according to Quinn. Collins should be that third back and has some versatility to move around and play both on the inside between the hashes and outside.

"The importance of more defensive backs that can cover and tackle shows up more and more," said Quinn. "He's certainly somebody that can do that."

Collins worked best on the line of scrimmage in press coverage, said Quinn. But his quickness was what allowed him to work on the inside of the defense as well as out in press coverage.

Dimitroff said the Falcons actually considered Coleman in the second round, and had that high a grade on the running back. But defense was a key for Atlanta early, and the team was happy Coleman fell to them in the third round.

Last season, Coleman became just the18th player in FBS history to rush for over 2,000 yards. He finished second in the country with 2,036 yards and was 12th with a 7.54 yards-per-carry average. He also had 19 plays of 20 yards or more, and the Falcons expect Coleman to break off big runs in the NFL.

"It's the toughness and the quickness to take the ball all the way," Quinn said in regard to what impressed him about Coleman. "It's the long-play ability, the ones where he can turn the 8-yard run into a 25-yard run and a big play that goes all the way."

Quinn liked what he saw in the running backs in Atlanta. He mentioned that Devonta Freeman impressed him greatly during minicamp with his ability to quickly get to the edge. He didn't realize how fast Freeman was, or how good his hands were, until he saw him practice live last week.

Freeman and Coleman will battle for the role of starting back. Coleman sounded pretty confident even before he stepped foot in the Falcons' facility.

"I'm an all-down back. My style is everything; I can do everything on the field," said Coleman. "I can run an inside zone, an outside zone, pass protection, catching the ball; I can basically do it all, and that's what they were looking for.

"I'm going to come in there and I'm gonna get a starting spot, that's what I'm going to do. Whoever is the starting back, they're going to have to work. I'm coming in and working right away."

Coleman may indeed win the starting job. Or the Falcons could roll with two running backs. Quinn said he felt their styles were unique, and Atlanta could utilize Freeman's speed and ability to get around to the outside in conjunction with Coleman's power and toughness in the middle of the field.

No matter who wins the battle at running back, how many snaps Collins plays in a stacked defensive backfield or how long it takes Beasley to nail down the LEO spot that seems tailor-made for him, the Falcons did a bang-up job in the first two days of the draft.

The Falcons didn't reach for anyone, got value with each pick, and filled much-needed holes while never sacrificing talent for need.

Through three rounds on the 2015 draft, the team of Dimitroff, Quinn and Scott Pioli have done a great job of putting pieces together to get Atlanta back into the playoff race.