Taven Bryan, DT, Florida

DRAFT NEED - DT

Atlanta was already super thin on DT, and that was before losing Dontari Poe in free-agency. Here is their current DT depth chart.

Outside of Jarrett, that’s the worst interior D-Line in the NFL. They also were not particularly strong on the interior D Line with Poe, as Jay Ajayi and the Eagles proved in the NFC Divisional Round. Jeremy Riggs of The Falcoholic even discredited the mock drafts that didn’t have the Falcons taking a DT in the first round. For these reason, the top 4 players on my draft board are DTs: Vita Vea, Da’Ron Payne, Taven Bryan, and Mo Hurst. With Vea and Payne being off the board at 13 and 17 respectively, Taven Bryan is the selection at #26.

Reasoning: I was deciding between Bryan and Hurst for the pick. Bryan has a higher ceiling, but a lower floor than Hurst does. Bryan is a player who needs to be put on the right team to thrive, because he has all the physical intangibles, but he needs to be coached up. It is hard to come up with a better team than Atlanta for a fit for Bryan. Bryan is being coached by Dan Quinn, known for producing good D-Lines, and he is a type of player that Quinn loves on his defense. He has all the physical intangibles that Quinn loves on the D-Line. Quinn also has a Florida connection, as he was the Defensive Coordinator for the Gators before he left to be the DC for the Seahawks. He has also drafted Gators on D in recent years (Keanu Neal, Brian Poole). He is also very versatile, as he can play DE in certain situations if necessary. He also has the highest ceiling of DTs in this draft, displayed by him garnering comparisons to JJ Watt and Ndamukong Suh.

Bryan is the most athletic DT in the draft. He tested very highly in the combine, and had scouts raving about his athleticism. He also has a very fast first step. On plays when his technique is fundamentally sound, he uses this first step to get into the backfield.

His main weakness is that he has a lack of instincts, and has solely relied on his athleticism to get past blockers throughout his career. This has led to a lack of production in college. Bryan also struggles with physicality, as he is smaller, and therefore more prone to being overpowered by O-Lineman. Bryan also struggles to react to the offensive line, as he aimlessly flies up the field, as this play below shows.

He has been compared to Ra’Shede Hageman and Robert Nkemdiche from recent draft classes, but without the off-field concerns, and with a much better work ethic. Hageman was drafted by the Falcons, and was a solid D-Line contributor before off-field concerns derailed his career.

I am betting that the Falcons are the team that can improve Bryan’s technique and maximize his potential, and because of that, he is the pick at #26.

2018 BGN Community Mock Draft Order

1) Browns (GMinTraining): Saquon Barkley

2) Giants (ablesser88): Quenton Nelson

3) Jets (20Safety_Hazards): Sam Darnold

4) Browns (MJ1893): Josh Rosen

5) Broncos (drc242): Baker Mayfield

6) Colts (I Need a Username): Bradley Chubb

7) Buccaneers (dunc123): Minkah Fitzpatrick

8) Bears (NVEagleShark): Tremaine Edmunds

9) 49ers (Doug Pederson’s Pair of Balls): Calvin Ridley

10) Raiders (Milehighbirds): Derwin James

11) Dolphins (danishdynamite_): Roquan Smith

12) Bills (LAOJoe): Denzel Ward

13) Washington (Eagle1987): Vita Vea

14) Packers (89Tremaine): Mike Hughes

15) Cardinals (RimoDawkins): Josh Allen

16) Ravens (PhillyEagles2011): Mike McGlinchey

17) Chargers (LBCeaglesFan!): Da’Ron Payne

18) Seahawks (KEZHOG): Marcus Davenport

19) Cowboys (Brawnybalboa): Rashaan Evans

20) Lions (dshelton5): Derrius Guice

21) Bengals (Palaniappan K M): Connor Williams

22) Bills (BeamerWentzorBentley): Lamar Jackson

23) Patriots (jy1187): Harold Landry

24) Panthers (dceagles): Justin Reid

25) Titans (ei78): Leighton Vander Esch

26) Falcons (SakPrescott): Taven Bryan

27) Saints (MidMajorMatt):

28) Steelers (SummersInVA):

29) Jaguars (RecarTabmok):

30) Vikings (AnthroEagle):

31) Patriots (PhilaWolverine):

32) Eagles (JALupowitz):

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Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think the Falcons should pick in the 2018 BGN Consensus Mock Draft.

1) Browns: Saquon Barkley

2) Giants: Sam Darnold

3) Jets: Josh Rosen

4) Browns: Josh Allen

5) Broncos: Baker Mayfield

6) Colts: Bradley Chubb

7) Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick

8) Bears: Quenton Nelson

9) 49ers: Tremaine Edmunds

10) Raiders: Derwin James

11) Dolphins: Roquan Smith

12) Bills: Lamar Jackson

13) Washington: Vita Vea

14) Packers: Denzel Ward

15) Cardinals: Mason Rudolph

16) Ravens: Mike McGlinchey

17) Chargers: Da’Ron Payne

18) Seahawks: Marcus Davenport

19) Cowboys: Rashaan Evans

20) Lions: Derrius Guice

21) Bengals: Connor Williams

22) Bills: Calvin Ridley

23) Patriots: Harold Landry

24) Panthers: Courtland Sutton

25) Titans: Leighton Vander Esch

26) Falcons: