Three Safeties the Falcons could choose in the Draft

The Atlanta Falcons waived Ricardo Allen yesterday, and Keanu Neal is a free agent. That’s $12 million in payroll on a 2020 team that finished dead last against the pass.

Neal could return to the Falcons in 2021, but safety will still be a need for Atlanta going into the 2021 season. Here’s a look at three players of value the Falcons could target in April’s NFL Draft.

Hamsah Nasirildeen, Safety, 6’3 1/8″ 213, Florida State

We named Nasirildeen one of the Top 5 performers at the Senior Bowl regardless of position. Nasirildeen projects as an in the box safety with the ability to lockdown tight ends in coverage. Tight ends can be match up nightmares for secondaries who can’t match their size. Enter Nasirildeen who is over 6’3 and has a nearly seven-foot wingspan (82 3/4″). 

NFL Mock Draft Database currently has Nasirildeen as the 65th ranked player on their big board. That puts him within shouting distance of the Falcons third round pick when they pick No. 68 overall.

Richie Grant, Safety, 5’11 5/8″ 200, UCF

While Nasrildeen is more of an in the box type of enforce, Grant is a coverage man. Not saying he can’t hit, he had over 250 tackles in his final three years with the Knights. But he was arguably the best coverage safety at the Senior Bowl.

Overall Grant is ranked 78th, but has begun to creep up in some mock drafts including the first round by CBS.

Richard LeCounte, 5’11 190, UGA

LeCounte is a local product who spent four years with the Georgia Bulldogs after graduating from Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Ga. LeCounte has exceptional football instincts and plus athleticism. LeCounte had seven interceptions in only 20 games over the course of his final two seasons at Georgia.

NFL Mock Draft Database has LeCounte as the 97th best prospect, but he was considered a first or early second round pick heading into his senior season.