Falcons keeping focus on defense, take Riley in 3rd round of draft

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Atlanta Falcons struck familiar themes when they again focused on defense high in the NFL draft and again selected a player from Louisiana State on Friday night.

The Falcons traded down, giving away their second-round pick, to select LSU linebacker Duke Riley in the third round. One year ago, the Falcons took LSU linebacker Deion Jones in the second round.

In 2015, Atlanta picked LSU cornerback Jalen Collins in the second round.

The reliance on LSU defensive players is no mystery to Riley.

“They love the background of the players, they love our work ethic, they love linebackers who can run,” Riley said in a telephone interview.

Jones and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell were among four rookies to start on defense in Atlanta’s 2016 Super Bowl season.

Riley said being able to again play with Jones “is just the best feeling in the world.”

The selection of Riley, who will play inside linebacker, marked the third straight year the Falcons have drafted defensive players with their first two picks.

The trend has mirrored the tenure of coach Dan Quinn, the former Seattle defensive coordinator who said he’s happy with the talent he now has at linebacker.

“The speed, the athleticism, the way we want to attack, we are very excited about that group,” Quinn said.

The Falcons traded their second-round pick to Buffalo for the No. 75 overall pick used to pick Riley and two picks in the fifth round on Saturday.

It was Atlanta’s second trade of the draft. General manager Thomas Dimitroff traded up in the first round to select UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley on Thursday night, sending third- and seventh-round picks to Seattle.

Riley led LSU with 93 tackles as a senior, including nine for losses. He had an interception.

Falcons punter Matt Bosher announced the selection of Riley at the draft in Philadelphia but erred by identifying the linebacker’s school as Duke.

The Falcons arranged for a private jet to take McKinley and some of his family members from Philadelphia to Atlanta on Friday. He toured the team’s practice facility and talked with a few Falcons players, including former UCLA teammate Devin Fuller, a wide receiver.

Dimitroff and Quinn were won over by McKinley’s hustle, especially when chasing quarterbacks.

Quinn said he likes “the grit that he has displayed, not only as a ballplayer but as a young man coming up.