Flick's Falcons Mock Draft: Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith Headlines 7-Round Haul

Who will the Atlanta Falcons take with each pick in the 2023 NFL Draft? Here's our best guess.

The Atlanta Falcons are in uncharted territory ahead of coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot's third NFL Draft together.

Fresh off an expensive free agency period, the Falcons have added several impact players to both sides of the ball, giving Smith and Fontenot more flexibility in their draft plans than they've had in years past.

Still, needs remain - Atlanta has to improve its pass rush and continue adding weapons around quarterback Desmond Ridder. There's also a vacancy at left guard, as last year's preferred starter, Elijah Wilkinson, signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency.

So, how will things play out across three days in Kansas City? Here's our best guess ...

Round 1, Pick 8 Overall: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

Let's first examine who's likely not going to be available - a trio of quarterbacks should be off the board, along with Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson, Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., and quite possibly both top corners in Illinois' Devon Witherspoon and Oregon's Christian Gonzalez.

There's also a fine chance that an offensive lineman, be it Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr. or Northwestern's Peter Skoronski, is selected in the first seven picks, likely at the expense of one of the corners.

Of course, if Wilson falls, there's a very high chance his mini slide ends at No. 8. Witherspoon would elicit a similar result, but his stock has soared in recent weeks, and he, like Wilson, seems unlikely to be available.

The most likely scenario is that Atlanta's left with Nolan Smith, Iowa defensive end Lukas Van Ness and Texas running back Bijan Robinson as its three best options - in which a trade down is very much in play.

But here, the nod goes to Smith, who the Falcons' decision makers have done plenty of work on.

The key reason as to why the 6-2, 238-pound Smith could be the solution for Atlanta is his prowess as a run defender paired with his pass rush upside.

Arthur Smith stressed late in the season the importance of being able to have success with just four defenders up front, and the former Georgia standout has the balanced skill set and athletic upside to fit that vision.

There's a logjam of outside linebackers on Atlanta's roster with Arnold Ebiketie, DeAngelo Malone and Lorenzo Carter all on multi-year contracts and Bud Dupree also in the building, but the Falcons want to add versatile athletes who can give defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen options to be creative, and Smith provides exactly that.

Round 2, Pick 44 Overall: Matthew Bergeron, OL, Syracuse

The Falcons could certainly go the path of signing a veteran in free agency, but Bergeron presents a young, long-term option with the ability to play early.

Bergeron, a Quebec native, played tackle at Syracuse and could certainly stay there in the NFL, but some inside the league believe he's best suited as a guard in a wide-zone system, which is what the Falcons run.

Further, Atlanta's reportedly intrigued by the idea of drafting a lineman with the potential to play guard early and kick outside to tackle if needed, something Bergeron fits in a big way.

There's also the point that Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford made the trip to Syracuse for Bergeron's pro day, where he starred.

A ready-made run blocker who projects well into Atlanta's offense, Bergeron makes plenty of sense here.

Round 3, Pick 75 Overall: Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati

The cliche around the Falcons' receivers room is that it could just as easily be a starting five in basketball - something the 5-10, 177-pound Scott doesn't particularly fit.

However, we're told that Scott's camp feels Atlanta is a viable landing spot due to his connection with Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder; it's a pairing both players are more than comfortable with.

Further, Smith stressed the importance of adding explosiveness to the offense, which plays right into Scott's favor, as he's viewed as one of the draft's premiere vertical presences and ran as low as 4.32 at his pro day.

Scott is capable of playing both inside and outside and brings strong run-after-catch ability thanks in part to his time as a high school running back.

In 2021, Scott hauled in 30 receptions for 520 yards and five scores while Ridder guided the Bearcats to the College Football Playoffs. This past season, Scott earned second-team All-AAC honors after setting career-highs in receptions (54), yards (899) and touchdowns (nine).

The Falcons have done tons of work on Day 2 receivers - Nebraska's Trey Palmer is a name to monitor - and here, Scott gets the nod ... and a chance to reunite with Ridder while adding much-needed speed to Atlanta's offense.

Round 4, Pick 110 Overall: Kei'Trel Clark, CB, Louisville

The first of three Falcons-coached Shrine Bowl players to make an appearance on Day 3 is Clark, who assistant coach Frank Bush said "flashed the most" to the staff in Las Vegas.

Fontenot's core of ethos and culture centers around being smart, tough and competitive, and Clark checks every box. At the Shrine Bowl, he was the lone player who brought his playbook to the media room and arrived at the event with notes on each opposing receiver he'd face in practice.

At 5-10, 181 pounds, Clark, who played both inside and outside at Louisville, projects best to nickel at the next level, and the Falcons currently have uncertainty surrounding the long-term outlook throughout the cornerback room beyond A.J. Terrell.

The confidence, physicality and instincts that Clark plays with jumps off the tape, but his work away from the field is just as impressive and left a noticeable impression on Atlanta's coaching staff.

Round 4, Pick 113 Overall: Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas

With the Falcons looking to add depth to their interior, Coburn rises to the forefront as another player who impressed during Shrine Bowl week.

Coburn, who stands a shade under 6-2 and tips the scales at 336 pounds, is a versatile run defender who can clog lanes and re-set the line of scrimmage.

In Las Vegas, he showed additional pass rush juice and has the upside to become a consistent contributor at nose tackle, which could prove valuable as the Falcons go multiple on the defensive front.

A second-team All-Big 12 selection and four-year starter for the Longhorns, Coburn meshed well with Atlanta's coaching staff and adds another big body inside.

Another name at nose tackle to watch in the later rounds is Alabama's D.J. Dale, who has a strong relationship with recently hired Falcons defensive analyst Dave Huxtable from their time together in Tuscaloosa.

Round 7, Pick 224 Overall: Shaka Heyward, LB, Duke

The cousin of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward and tight end Connor Heyward, Shaka is a big (6-3, 235 pounds), linearly explosive (4.53 40-yard dash) linebacker who fits the mold that Nielsen wants in the middle of his defense.

Heyward twice earned All-ACC honors and was a team captain this past season; he brings a special teams background and hails from Dacula, Ga., earning him a peach emblem on Fontenot's board.

The 23-year-old Heyward had a positive conversation with Bush at the Combine and could certainly be in play as the draft winds down.

Round 7, Pick 225 Overall: Tyreque Jones, S, Boise State

The final selection of Atlanta's critical third draft under Smith and Fontenot goes towards Jones, who developed a close relationship with multiple Falcons staffers at the Shrine Bowl.

The 6-2, 194-pound Jones fills the "big nickel" role while also contributing value as a run defender in the box. He also starred on special teams at Boise State, logging over 400 snaps on a variety of units during his five years as a contributor.

At this stage of the draft, familiarity and versatility become key talking points, and Jones has both aplenty, making him a logical choice to close out the Falcons' 2023 draft.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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