Atlanta Falcons select Kyle Rudolph with 1st pick?

We are 13 days away from the start of the NFL Draft and the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter has the Atlanta Falcons doing the unthinkable: drafting a Notre Dame player. The Falcons have a need at tight end with the once great Tony Gonzalez closing in on retirement but would they really draft Kyle Rudolph with the #27 overall pick? Ledbetter thinks so...

Tony Gonzalez is not going to play forever.

This offseason he let the team know that he plans to return for the final year of his contract.

Later, he stated that if there is a long lockout that he’ll probably hang up his cleats.

Either way, the Falcons have to do something. They have to plan for the future. They have to get a tight end on board and they’ve been heavily scouting the position this offseason.

With the 27th pick, the Falcons will have a chance to address their needs at defensive end, tight end, cornerback and wide receiver.

But when Miami cornerback Brandon Harris is selected 26th by Baltimore, the Falcons will shift over to offense.

They could go with Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward or Georgia defensive end Justin Houston. But they know Miami defensive end Allen Bailey will still be available when they pick in the second around.

However, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll pick a wide receiver in the first round because there will be talented receivers in the second, third and fourth rounds. East Carolina wide receiver Dwayne Harris could be the team’s third round target.

Under this scenario, the Falcons will pull Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph’s name off their draft board in the first round.

Rudolph, who’s 6-foot-6 1/8 and 259 pounds, is widely considered the top tight end in the draft.

It's a good argument and trust me I would love to have Rudolph on the Falcons. The guy has crazy measurables and would be a red zone nightmare for opponents. But I also think the Falcons have bigger needs with the #1 pick.

Defense.

The Falcons need playmakers on the defensive side of the ball and most importantly guys who can get to the quarterback. If I were the Falcons I would be looking to draft either Martrez Wilson from Illinois or Georgia's Justin Houston. Both are fast and extremely athletic who are also a little too big to stay at linebacker. Either one I think could be an outstanding OLB/DE in the 3-4 defense for the Falcons.

Rudolph is clearly the #1 tight end in this weak draft. His height and hands are excellent for a tight end and he would definitely be a favorite target of Matt Ryan. But I don't see him as a first round talent after his slow times at his Pro Day in South Bend (4.78 and 4.82). Plus he has injury issues and missed time in all 3 seasons at Notre Dame with the most significant one coming this past with a torn hamstring. I would much rather see the Falcons take the "safe pick" of Houston or Wilson and then hope Rudolph can be had in the 2nd round. Rudolph could be the next Greg Olsen/Rob Gronkowski but the injury history would scare me away from taking him in the 1st.

Who would you take if you were the Falcons?