Virginia Tech RB David Wilson

It’s been over a week since I’ve given you an update on Falcons draft-related news, but here’s a run-down of many of the pro days and scheduled visits/workouts the Falcons have reportedly had over the past week or so. Pro days are ostensibly over, with SMU capping off the schedule. McNeese State is slated to have a pro day as well this week on Friday. For the most part, the rest of this month will be filled with private workouts and personal pro days for a handful of players that have been rehabbing injuries.

Today, SI.com’s Tony Pauline reports that the Falcons sent offensive line coach Pat Hill to Wisconsin center Peter Konz’s workout today. Konz had yet to really work out in front of scouts due to a dislocated ankle he suffered at the end of this past season. Konz was invited to Indianapolis for the Combine in February, and disappointed with only 18 bench reps of 225 pounds. At today’s workout, he improved to 23 reps. He did not run a 40-yard dash, but did go through positional drills alongside teammates Kevin Zeitler and Josh Oglesby. Per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Konz reportedly considers himself to be at 90% recovery from his injury.

The Falcons were confirmed to be at Hill’s former employer, Fresno State’s pro day on March 28. There, they likely got a long look at undersized, but explosive wideout/return threat Devon Wylie. Wylie clocked a 4.39 40 time in Indianapolis, which was tied for sixth best among all prospects at the Combine.

Hill is not the only Falcons assistant getting mileage watching pro days. The Falcons sent new quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas to Chattanooga earlier this week to watch UTC quarterback B.J. Coleman. At that workout, Coleman completed 34 of 43 passes. Reports surfaced that the Falcons also got a long look at East Carolina QB Dominique Davis following his pro day back on March 22. The Falcons also sent brass to look at Southern Miss QB Austin Davis according to College2Pro.com’s Bo Marchionte. There they also got a look at wideout Ryan Balentine.

Other pro days the Falcons were confirmed to attend last week were Alabama, Brigham Young, and Georgia Southern, held on March 29. They were also at South Carolina on March 28. And it’s also been confirmed they went to James Madison’s pro day way back on March 16.

College2Pro also reports that the Falcons have gotten looks at Lafayette TE Kevin Doty and Portland State DT Myles Wade.

Aaron Wilson of Scout.com reports that the Falcons have a private workout scheduled with RB David Wilson (Virginia Tech), and have gotten looks at DE Melvin Ingram (South Carolina), and OG Kelechi Osemele (Iowa State). Other prospects that per Wilson the Falcons have shown interest in are WR Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma), CB Trumaine Johnson (Montana), and OT Mitchell Schwartz (California).

Aaron Wilson of Scout.com reports that Alabama defensive tackle Josh Chapman is scheduled to visit with and work out for the Falcons. Chapman is a massive nose tackle prospect at 6’1″ 316, but is drawing interest from other 4-3 teams like the Falcons including the Raiders, Titans, and Ravens per Wilson. Although the Ravens would be widely categorized as a hybrid scheme, something that many expect the Falcons to move towards under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

Chapman is recovering from ACL surgery in January, and it’s likely his medical checks will heavily influence where his draft stock is. Chapman injured the knee on October 1, but managed to start and play in 7 of the next 8 games for the Crimson Tide. This past season, he had 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. He also started as a junior, where he had 31 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and a sack.

NFL Draft Bible tweets that along with UL-Lafayette tight end Ladarius Green, the Falcons will work out his teammate cornerback Dwight “Bill” Bentley.

Bentley has been rising up boards in recent months. At 5’10″ 182-pound corner performed well at the Combine last month. He had 13 bench reps, ran a 4.43 40 seconds, 31.5-inch vertical jump, 9-6 broad jump, and 6.99 3-cone drill. Bentley is the 9th ranked cornerback on CBS Sports, and is projected as a 2nd/3rd round pick.

It’s likely that both players will be performing on-campus workouts for the Falcons given that teams are allowed a limit of 32 prospects to bring to their own facilities for private workouts.

Aaron Wilson of Scout.com reports that Louisiana-Lafayette tight end Ladarius Green is scheduled for a private workout with the Falcons. Green worked out today at UL-Lafayette’s pro day, where he jumped 35 inches on his vertical leap. It was a one-inch improvement from his performance at the Combine last month. He also improved his bench press with an additional rep of 225 pounds, for a total of 17.  In Indianapolis, Green measured in at 6’6″ 239 pounds and ran a 4.53 40 time. He also had a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches and a 7.12 3-cone drill.

Last season, he caught 50 passes for 607 yards (12.1 avg) and 8 touchdowns. The previous season he had 44 catches for 794 yards (18.0 avg) and 7 touchdowns.

Aaron Wilson of Scout.com reported a few days ago that the Falcons were set to work out Illinois defensive back Tavon Wilson on Monday, with Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith, and Mike Nolan expected to be in attendance.

Wilson moved between cornerback and safety in his career at Illinois. He started this past year mainly at corner, after playing primarily safety as a junior. His first two years were played at corner.

The 5’11″ 205-pound defensive back ran a 4.50 40 at Illinois pro day last Tuesday. He also impressed with a 32-inch vertical, 10-4 broad jump, 4.16 short shuttle, 7.04 3-cone, and 17 bench reps of 225 pounds. It’s a very likely indicator that the Falcons were among the 29 teams that were said to have shown up for Illinois pro day last week.

Wilson projects most likely to safety in the NFL, but his ability to play corner adds versatility.

DE Ryan Kerrigan

Aaron Wilson of the National Football reports that the Falcons will have a private visit with Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan today and tomorrow, and will receive a visit from Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn on Tuesday.

The Falcons have reached the final stages in the pre-draft process in which they conduct their final private workouts, then finalize their draft board. They have spent the past two weeks flying prospective prospects and draft targets to Flowery Branch in order to conduct private workouts, which usually involve a film session and meeting with coaches and typically a point where the team gets to figure out a player from the neck up rather than another athletic workout.

Wilson also reports that Central Arkansas pass rusher Markell Carter will visit the Falcons on Tuesday. Carter measures 6-4, 252 pounds with 4.70 speed and combined for 12.5 sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss the past two years.

According to Pro Football Talks’ visits tracker, the Falcons will also look at Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter on Monday.

Tuesday will see a meeting with Hawaii runner Alex Green. And on Wednesday the Falcons will take a look at USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

The Falcons are set to meet with several prospects leading up to the draft on April 28…

April 18 Update:

The Falcons will conduct private workouts with Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan on Monday and Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn on Tuesday. The Falcons are also meeting with Oklahoma State RB Kendall Hunter on Monday, and Central Arkansas DE Markell Carter and Hawaii RB Alex Green on Tuesday.

On April 12, the Falcons conducted a private workout with Maryland WR Torrey Smith.

April 14:

Washington LB Mason Foster is set to visit the Falcons on Friday, April 15.

Read more…

UNC QB T.J. Yates

The Falcons are scheduled to hold their local pro day today, set to feature 35 players. It will feature a chance for the team to get a closer look at some of the lesser known products with collegiate or prep ties to the state of Georgia. Last year, Clemson tight end Michael Palmer was able to emerge and land an undrafted free agent contract that led to him making the Falcons roster.

While the names of those players have yet to be officially disclosed, we do know of a few players that will be on hand. Georgia Tech RB Anthony Allen, Georgia LB Akeem Dent, North Alabama DT Nate Frazier, East Carolina WR Dwayne Harris, and according to the National Football Post, South Dakota State CB Cole Brodie’s name has been added to the list. North Carolina QB T.J. Yates’ agent Brian Ayrault also confirmed he will be on hand. It is yet unconfirmed, but suspected that Montana QB Justin Roper will also be on hand to work out.

We previously reported on some of the players that have local ties that could be on hand for the workouts. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC also provides his own list. You can check that out by clicking here.

PK Kai Forbath

Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports that the Falcons have a private workout scheduled with UCLA kicker Kai Forbath today on Wednesday.

The UCLA product was one of the most accurate kickers in college football the past few years, connecting on around 84% of his 101 career attempts. With a big leg and top accuracy, Forbath is considered one of the top kickers in this class and projected as a late round pick.

Falcons current kicker Matt Bryant is coming off a strong season, but is entering the final year of his contract and will turn 36 in May. The Falcons may want to go with a youth movement at the position. The Falcons have not drafted a specialist since they took punter Harold Alexander in the third round of the 1993 draft. They have not drafted a kicker since Allan Leavitt in 1977.

You can click here to read a profile on Forbath.

LB Akeem Ayers

The Falcons conducted workouts to two Pac-10 linebackers on Saturday and Sunday according to sources.

On Saturday, the team got a look at UCLA outside linebacker Akeem Ayers, projected by many as a first round pick. Ayers tweeted about his on campus workout. Sunday, the team headed north to get a look at Oregon inside linebacker Casey Matthews on campus per a National Football Post report. Matthews is the younger brother of current Packers star Clay Matthews III, whose father was none other than ex-Falcon linebacker Clay Matthews, Jr. The younger Matthews is seen more as a middle round pick for this year’s upcoming draft.

You can click here to read a scouting report on Ayers.