Alabama’s Williams fits need for Falcons

One thing to keep in mind is that under general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the Falcons have been and will likely always be a needs-based drafting team.

There’s no need to go down the entire list, but there are two examples worth noting.

In 2009, the Falcons selected Mississippi defensive tackle Peria Jerry over USC linebacker Clay Matthews because they needed a tackle and Matthews was a 3-4 linebacker.

Fast forward to 2015, the Falcons selected Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley, in search of the elusive passrusher replacement for John Abraham, while Georgia running back Todd Gurley was still on the board.

The No. 1 offseason priority is fixing the offensive line. The team doesn’t have any money in free agency to sign the top available guards.

They can get a few bargain-basement scheme-fits, but in order to fix the line they need to use the 14th pick on the best offensive lineman still on the board. That person will likely be Alabama’s Jonah Williams. He played right and left tackle for the Crimson Tide, but he projects to be a Pro Bowler at guard, much like Zack Martin did when he was coming out of Notre Dame.

Martin went 16th overall to Dallas in 2014. He’s been to five Pro Bowls.

“I would love Jonah Williams (at 14),” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think that would make a lot of sense.”

After allowing 108 quarterback hits, giving up 42 sacks and being ranked 31st of 32 teams in “stuffed-runs” for no gain or loss yards, the Falcons’ line needs more than some free-agent retreads.

Williams’ arms were measured at only 33⅝ inches at the NFL scouting combine. The 6-foot-4 and 305-pounder’s arms are considered short for a tackle and is why a lot of teams project him as a guard. Martin is 6-4, 315 pounds.

“I view him as an inside player,” Jeremiah said. “There are some teams that have him as a tackle. I think he can slide inside at guard and be a perennial Pro Bowler there.”

The Falcons played six guards last season and are moving on from Andy Levitre, who was the opening-day starter the past four seasons. Williams might be a plug-andplay option.

Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker and Clemson defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence could still be available.

But the Falcons like the depth in the draft at cornerback and defensive tackle, so they can come back to those spots later.

Here’s how the rest of the first round will shake out: