Atlanta, GA
Post-Christmas Atlanta Falcons 7-Round Mock Draft
The Atlanta Falcons narrowly lead the NFC South with two weeks of the NFL regular season remaining. While it is not draft season in Atlanta, the front office already knows positions of need for 2025 and beyond.
General manager Terry Fontenot currently holds four draft picks, one each in the first, second, fourth, and seventh rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Atlanta sent its third-round pick to New England for Matt Judon. Their fifth-round pick was forfeited due to violating tampering rules when arranging travel for Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Charlie Woerner during free agency.
Finally, the sixth-round pick was involved in the Van Jefferson pick swap. The Falcons have the Rams’ seventh-round pick, while their own currently is held by the Steelers.
Reminder, it’s December, and draft boards will evolve.
Round 1 – Pick 19 Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Campbell is an IMG Academy graduate and former 5-star recruit before committing to Alabama. The 6 foot 3, 244-pounder has been pro-prepped since early high school and has durable coverage ability in space and sideline-to-sideline speed.
The injury history of Troy Andersen and the lack of athleticism from Nate Landman and JD Bertrand make this a top-two need on this Falcons team. If you want a starter in a limited linebacker class, he’s the best.
Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell is a stud.
-Oozes explosiveness and a hot motor — Cory (@fakecorykinnan) December 23, 2024
-Fluid athlete who changes directions well
-Coverage ability to carry vertical, match underneath, and IQ to squat on peripheral routes
-SAM versatility to come off the edge (5 sacks in 2024) pic.twitter.com/ZIL9nRXFxG
Round 2 – Pick 51 Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas
2023 first-team All-SEC and second team in 2024, Jackson had 6.5 sacks each of the last-two seasons. Throughout his top-100 high school recruitment and playing days at LSU and Arkansas, Jackson established inside/outside versatility on the line of scrimmage.
Arkansas ED Landon Jackson
Every bit of 6’7” with inside-out ability up front. Long, powerful pass-rusher that competes his tail off in the run game as well.
Top 50 lock. pic.twitter.com/QJNY9Zbj5y
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) December 19, 2024
In the case of the Falcons, with his 96th-percentile height, 86th-percentile weight, and 80+ percentile vertical speed, Jackson projects well for a defensive end role in a 3-4 defensive scheme, similar to the role occupied by Calais Campbell in 2023.
Pick 51 would be Jackson’s draft floor for sure, but knowing Fontenot has made a second-round trade in every draft he’s led with the Falcons, he’ll go up and get Jackson if he wants him.
Round 4 – Pick 120 Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville
Preferably a zone corner, the 6-foot, 195-pound Riley is the sizable thump in the slot. The Falcons need to upgrade depth behind starter Dee Alford, who is a restricted free agent after this season.
Riley‘s speed is what he writes home about though, and oddly he times even faster than he looks on tape. With a verified 10.48 100-meter time, he’s got ideal size and speed.
#Louisville CB Quincy Riley Kick-Step Technique
– Stab the shoulder
– Chest to chest
– Look back and run the WR into the sidelineThe 2025 CB class is deep and talented. pic.twitter.com/0kuUVOjqXm
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) June 6, 2024
Round 7 – Pick 237 Cam Jackson, NT, Florida
A 3-4 scheme ideally features a mammoth nose tackle in the middle. Jackson has lost over 25 pounds and was still listed at 342 pounds for the Gators in 2024.
We liked Florida transfer NT Cam Jackson’s junior tape last year at Memphis but he played at totally different level last week vs. Vols.@CamJackson72 (6062v, 353v, 34 1/2 arm) is prototype mammoth 0-tech. Disposes of OC with ease & checkout the big-man athleticism on the… https://t.co/740gJIsLOl pic.twitter.com/XTwcFWOGhh
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) September 20, 2023
Jackson’s immovable mass and ferocious motor can help contribute in Atlanta’s early down stunts and gap control, creating a niche role at a value late Day 3.
Four picks, four defensive players – Terry Fontenot has gone offensive skill in the first round in each of his first-four drafts as the Falcons general manager. However, this will be the first time the Falcons aren’t drafting in the top-10, and the idea of selecting the best prospect available should be able to fill needs on the defensive side of the ball in 2025.
Atlanta, GA
2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say
Two suspects in a shooting that left a 7-year-old Atlanta girl dead and her mother injured are now in custody nearly a week after the violence, police say.
The shooting happened around 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 24 at a home on the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW.
Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between one of the victim’s family members and the gunman over the phone. Thirty minutes after the argument, the suspect came back and fired shots into the home, police said.
Officers responding to the scene found a 44-year-old woman and her daughter, identified as 7-year-old Zoe Price, shot. Medics rushed the pair to a local hospital, but Price died from her injuries.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the department’s homicide unit secured an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Preston Smith two days after the shooting. Smith turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on March 2.
Schierbaum said officers executed a search warrant on Feb. 27 at a home on McDaniel Street. On that day, 17-year-old Steven Richardson, who police described as an “accomplice,” turned himself in to authorities.
Both men are charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, three counts of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and four counts of third-degree cruelty to children. Richardson is also charged with possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 18.
At a press conference to announce the arrests, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described Price as a bright and compassionate little girl who was “full of energy and full of joy.”
“Her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence, and that loss is not abstract. It is a chair that is going to be missing at the dinner table each night. It is an empty classroom seat next to her friends,” Dickens said.
The mayor called the arrests “a step forward towards justice” for Price’s family and families across the city.
Dickens said that violence, like the act that took Price’s life, would not be tolerated in Atlanta.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More
On Monday, the Braves were able to earn another Spring Training victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was a game where the starting pitching depth of the Braves was on full display, as Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Owen Murphy all threw multiple innings. While it is likely unwise to expect big things from any of these three arms this season, they are a part of the “next man up” group for the Braves if injury again impacts the rotation. Each had a solid effort today, a trend that will hopefully continue.
Atlanta, GA
Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel ‘Magic City Monday’ promo
2026 NBA All-Star Game marks major positive step forward
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game takes a major positive step forward with real competition led by Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards and rising stars.
An NBA player from an opposing team has called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their upcoming game promotion that revolves around celebrating a well-known local gentleman’s club.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet asked the Hawks to reconsider their “Magic City Monday” plans for a March 16 game against the Orlando Magic in a letter posted to Medium on Monday, March 2. Atlanta’s ownership group and front office recently touted the one-night collaboration as an ode to an “iconic cultural institution,” citing Magic City’s role and impact in Atlanta’s Black communities and hip-hop culture in the announcement.
But Kornet wrote that “the Hawks failed to acknowledge that this place is, as the business itself boasts, ‘Atlanta’s premier strip club.’ “
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornet continued. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.
“Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
Magic City Kitchen is also slated to serve two versions of its “world famous” lemon pepper wings – Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ – at the March 16 game. The flavor is named after three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year-winner, Lou Williams. Rapper T.I. is scheduled to perform at halftime and limited edition Magic City merchandise will be available to purchase at the game.
Magic City celebrated 40 years with a five-part STARZ docuseries, ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’ that was produced by Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz and Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri. Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and T.I. are scheduled to record a live podcast from inside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena before the game.
Kornet, 30, hopes the Hawks and NBA officials listen to him instead.
“I’d like to encourage the league, its owners, employees and fans to hold the Atlanta Hawks to a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting,” Kornet wrote. “I and others throughout the league were surprised by and object to the Hawks’ decision. We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
Luke Kornet stats
Kornet is averaging a career-best 7.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his first season with the Spurs. This is the sixth team he’s played for in his nine NBA seasons, with his previous four years spent on the Boston Celtics.
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