Here’s a balanced look at the Falcons’ 2019 draft class:
First round (14th overall) Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College
Height: 6-feet-4 Weight: 310 pounds Arm Length: 34-1/8 inches Hand size: 9-1/2 inches 40-yard dash: 5.86 seconds Bench press: 25 reps of 225 pounds Vertical jump: 30.5 inches Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches Three-cone drill: 7.61 seconds Overview: He was an all-ACC selection last season. He played mostly at right guard mostly, but also played some at right tackle. The Eagles ran some outside zone and gap blocking schemes. He was the second-rated guard in the draft by NFL Draft Bible and BobMcGinnFootball.com behind Oklahoma's Cody Ford. "He's never going to be a dynamic, flashy player," the AFC executive said of Lindstrom. "He's very solid. He's going to be a good NFL player. He's not dynamic. He's probably not going to be a Pro Bowl-level player, but he's always going to be a solid NFL starter. He's good at everything and not great at anything. He's just a solid guard." Is he Quenton Nelson? "No, no, no," the executive scout said. "Slow your horses now. He's a solid NFL starter. He's not as explosive or as powerful as Quenton is." He posted 29 on the Wonderlic. Some describe Lindstrom as a project. "I think he can compete and start if not Year 2 then definitely by Year 3," another scout told BobMcGinnFootball.com. "His biggest issue will be the power and the anchor. That's why he's not playing for you right away. He's got to develop from that standpoint." His father, Chris, played DE for four teams from 1983-'87. "He tries hard, he really tries hard," a third scout said. "But he plays high and he's a catcher. He gets pushed around. Why are people so excited about Lindstrom? No strength. Plays high." His uncle, Dave LIndstrom, also played in the NFL. He finished his Boston College career with 48 consecutive starts. "He appears to be a solid Day 2 prospect," according to NFL Draft Bible. He's from Dudley, Mass.
First round (31st overall) Kaleb McGary, OT, Washington
Height: 6-foot, 7-inches Weight: 317 pounds 40-yard dash: 5.05 seconds Bench: 23 reps of 225 pounds Vertical: 33.5 inches 10-yard split: 1.83 seconds 20-yard: 2.95 seconds 3-Cone Drill: 7.66 seconds Broad Jump: 9 feet, 2 inches Overview: Was the third rated tackle in the draft behind Washington State's Andre Dillard and Florida's Jawaan Taylor. Has an incredible story about his family losing its farm and then have the RV that they were living in burn down. Said his life was like a country song. He was the winner of the 2018 Morris Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the Pac 12 as voted on by opposing players. He was a two-time all-Pac 12 selection. He's had three procedures to help stabilize his heart arrhythmia. Falcons contended that he only had two, but it's still an issue. "I'm scared of the medical," one scout told BobMcGinnFootball.com. "He had a heart thing going on since he's been in college. He started like the last three years with it so he should be OK. It scares the hell out of me." McGary is smart and athletic. "He's like a big (expletive) ogre," said another scout. "He's a better athlete than you want to give him credit for." Wonderlic of 25. Not everyone is high on him. "Big, stiff robot guy." a third scout said. "(Max) Scharping moves better and has better balance. I don't like him." He was a projected second round pick. Didn't want to talk about an incident from his freshmen year when he cut the cord on the music system after the music was switched from country to rhythm and blues. He is from Fife, Wash.
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Fourth round (111th overall) Kendall Sheffield, CB, Ohio State
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 193 pounds 40-yard dash: 4.26 seconds, according to Sheffield in phone interview. Bench: Injured his left pectoral muscle on his seventh lift at the combine. Said surgery would not be required. Vertical: not available 10-yard split: not available 20-yard: not available 3-Cone Drill: not available Broad Jump: not available Overview: He signed with Alabama coming out of high school and went to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, before landing at Ohio State. He has rare speed. He left Alabama after spending his first season as a redshirt. In 2016, he played cornerback and returned kicks at Blinn. He scored touchdowns on both punt and kickoff returns. He made 40 tackles and finished with nine passes defensed in his first season with the Buckeyes, second on the team only to 2018 No. 4 overall pick Denzel Ward, a Pro Bowl selection his rookie year for the Cleveland Browns. Teams were a bit more hesitant to challenge Sheffield in 2018, and his tackle (35) and pass breakups (six) dropped despite his starting all 14 games. He was projected to be selected in the third round of the draft. He is from Missouri City, Texas.
Credit: Darron Cummings
Credit: Darron Cummings
Fourth round (135th overall) John Cominsky, DE, Charleston
Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 286 pounds 40-yard dash: 4.69 seconds Bench: 225 pounds 22 times Vertical: 33.5 inches 10-yard split: 1.67 seconds 20-yard: 2.78 seconds 3-Cone Drill: 7.03 seconds Broad Jump: 6-feet, 8-inches Overview: He was a projected fourth-round pick. He had a Senior Bowl meeting with the Falcons. Cominsky weighed 215 pounds when he graduated from Barberton (Ohio) High School. He played quarterback his senior year and was moved to defensive line as a freshman at Charleston. "He tested off the charts," one NFL scout told BobMcGinnFootball.com. "I don't care what level of comp they come from. They test out like that somebody's going to take them (high)." He's smart, too, as he scored 31 on the Wonderlic. "You can kick him down to a 3-technique and at the end of the day as an interior pass rusher he'll be a (bleep)," another scout said. Finished with 218 tackles (48 ½ for loss) and 16 sacks. "Been through a lot of adversity in his life," said a third scout. "Very passionate, very intense. He just needs some NFL development. You wish he was a little longer. His arms were 33-1/2." From Barberton, Ohio.
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Fifth round (152nd overall) Qadree Ollison, RB, Pittsburgh
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 228 pounds 40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds Bench: 19 reps of 225 pounds Vertical: 29.5 inches 10-yard split: 1.53 seconds 20-yard: 2.28 seconds 3-Cone Drill: 7.53 seconds Broad Jump: 9 feet, 6 inches Overview: Rushed for 1,121 yards as a freshman and earned ACC freshman of the year honors while subbing for James Conner (Steelers). When Conner returned, Ollison slipped down the depth chart and rushed for a combined 525 yards as a sophomore and junior. Last season, he rushed for 1,190 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. He also rushed for 11 touchdowns matching his scoring output from his freshman season. He runs with authority and breaks tackles and using a mean stiff-arm. Was projected to be a undrafted free agent. He has a 4.93 grade from NFL.com, which means he has a 50-50 chance to make a roster.
"He's a hybrid, a runner and a fullback," one scout told BobMcGinnFootball.com. "Big, hard runner. Tough. Doesn't have great long speed but can hammer between the tackles. Problem with this guy is he wasn't used much in the pass game and he hasn't played fullback. ... You get a twofer, really. You get a big halfback and a fullback." Wonderlic score of 21. Ollison has dealt with the death of his older brother, Lerowne "Rome" Harris. Denzel Lewis pleaded guilty in May to murder. Security footage showed Lewis shot Harris three times on the morning of Oct. 14, 2017, outside a gas station in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Harris was 35. Ollison forgave the killer. "If you have hate in your heart you never get past it," he said. He's from Niagara Falls.
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Fifth round (172nd overall) Jordan Miller, CB, Washington
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 186 pounds 40-yard dash: 4.49 seconds Arm length: 32 7/8 inches. Hands: 9 5/8 Bench: 6 reps of 225 pounds Vertical: 37 inches 10-yard split: 1.56 seconds 20-yard: 2.61 seconds 3-Cone Drill: not available Broad Jump: 10 feet, 5 inches Overview: Had an injury-riddled career for the Huskies. When healthy, he made spectacular plays. Does a poor job in run support as he lunges at ballcarriers and doesn't break down before tackling, which missed tackles. He was a standout on special teams. He played 302 passing snaps last season. He was targeted on 32 plays and gave up 20 catches for a 62.5 catch percentage. He played has a 569 snaps overall and had a 70.7 grade by profootballfocus.com. He's from Oceanside, Calif.
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Sixth round (203rd overall) Marcus Green, RB Louisiana-Monroe
Height: 5-foot-8 Weight: 191 pounds 40-yard dash: 4.39 seconds at his Pro Day Bench: not available Vertical: 39 inches 10-yard split: not available 20-yard: not available 3-Cone Drill: 7.66 seconds Broad Jump: not available Overview: Was an all-purpose player for the Warhawks, leading the team in receiving with 50 receptions, 851 yards, 17.1 yard per catch and eight touchdowns. He also contributed as a running back with 20 carries for 192 yards, 9.7 per carry and one touchdown. He's a very dangerous kick and punt returner. He had five punt returns and 19 kickoff returns. Green tied for the FBS lead with four kickoff returns touchdowns and also returned a punt for a touchdown. The Falcons plan to used him at running back. In high school he earned five letters in basketball as he played for the varsity as an eighth-grader. Active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a drummer at church. He is from Pontotoc, Miss. (13 miles west of Tupelo).
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