2019 NFL Draft: KC Kingdom First Round Mock Draft
2018 NFL Draft: KC Kingdom Mock Draft
Round 1: Pick 12 – Atlanta Falcons (Cullen Jekel)
. Defensive End. Florida State. Brian Burns. 12. player. 44
Atlanta entered the draft with nine picks at its disposal, and used one of its two fourth-rounders, pick 152, to move up two spots in the first round in order to select Florida State’s Brian Burns. The Falcons pulled the trigger on this deal for a couple of reasons. One, Burns was surprisingly still available after 11 picks.
Two, it looked like both the Lions, picking 13th after trading down with the Dolphins, and the Packers, with whom the Falcons traded, would take defensive ends. Sure enough, Detroit grabbed Michigan’s Rashan Gary at 13. Third, after the trade, the Falcons were still left with another seven draft picks, including one in each of the second, third, and fourth rounds.
The 6’5″, 235-pound Burns electrified with the Seminoles, collecting ten sacks in 2018 after getting 13 his first two seasons. Not only does he rush the passer well, but he’s also stout against the run.
In the NFC South, he’ll help contain the Panthers’ Cam Newton while being able to pressure the Saints’ aging Drew Brees and create havoc against the Bucs’ Jameis Winston. Big pick up for the Falcons, whose head coach and general manager probably need to make some noise in 2019 in order to be employed in 2020.
Staff Reaction: The Falcons saw a guy they liked and they traded up to get him. While they probably could have still gotten a solid pick at number 14, they wanted Brian Burns, so they went and got him. He’ll help the Falcons against those tough offenses in the NFC South. – Leigh