Falcons selected Connecticut LB Yawin Smallwood with the No. 253 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Smallwood (6-foot-2, 246) was the Huskies’ starting middle linebacker for three seasons, tallying 27 career tackles for loss with 9.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He was a first-team all-conference pick as both a sophomore and junior, before turning pro. Unfortunately, Smallwood trudged a 5.01 forty at the Combine, with a sub-par 9-foot broad jump. He’s a better athlete than the measurables indicate, but was an inconsistent college tackler and is still learning to efficiently use his hands. Smallwood has longer-range starting upside, but figures to open his career on special teams.
