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The Atlanta Falcons made a surprising pick at No. 48 in the mock draft, selecting Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. This choice addresses a significant need for the team following the loss of Kaden Elliss in free agency.
At this late hour in the draft season, surprises are rare - at least when it comes to mock drafts. Rotoballer has one in a new three-round mock, featuring an unexpected pick for the Atlanta Falcons at No. 48 overall in Round 2.
That's where Chris Gregory has the Falcons taking Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez instead of his teammate, defensive tackle Lee Hunter - the most popular mock pick for Atlanta at that spot.
"Atlanta lost Kaden Elliss in free agency and has done nothing to replace him, leaving interior linebacker as a major need. Rodriguez is undersized, but he tested well, is a strong finisher against the run, and shows range in coverage. This would be a good mix of need and fit for the Falcons."
Rodriguez (6-foot-1, 231 pounds) is a bit on the small size for a pro linebacker. However, he has some very strong athletic scoring, including a 38.5" vertical, a 10'1" broad jump and a 4.19 20-yard shuttle time. Overall, he earned a 9.23 RAS score.
His college production is equally impressive. In 44 games at Texas Tech, Rodriguez put up 138 combined tackles (25.5 for a loss) to go with six sacks, six interceptions, 12 pass breakups and a remarkable 13 forced fumbles.
With just six days to go before the draft begins, Rodriguez is projected to be taken in Round 2, at No. 45 overall on average.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez could be answer to Falcons' issue at LB
The Falcons selected Jacob Rodriguez to fill a major need at interior linebacker after losing Kaden Elliss in free agency.
Jacob Rodriguez stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 231 pounds, with a 38.5" vertical, a 10'1" broad jump, and a 4.19 20-yard shuttle time, earning a 9.23 RAS score.
The expected pick for the Falcons at No. 48 was defensive tackle Lee Hunter, Rodriguez's teammate at Texas Tech.

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