Texas Football: Falcons get practical pick in DE Ta’quon Graham

With the 148th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, former standout Texas football 6-foot-4 and 300 pound standout senior defensive end Ta’Quon Graham was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons out of the NFC South. This was the first Texas Ex off of the board in day three of the 2021 draft, and the Falcons got one of the best defensive ends left available at this point of the weekend festivities.

The former Longhorns talented four-star recruit and proven and versatile defensive can make an impact likely a couple of years down the road for the Falcons. Graham did have injury issues and found himself playing in a number of different defensive schemes during his four years playing on the Forty Acres.

Texas had three different defensive coordinators during the four years that Graham played for them. And there were three straight changes to the defensive schemes in the final three years in the college career of Graham.

That type of adversity that Graham had to adjust to over the course of the past three years should only help him out in terms of fitting in at the next level. The last defensive coordinator that Graham played for is now an assistant coach in the NFL, in former Texas DC/safeties coach and Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Chris Ash.

Falcons get utility out of former Texas football DE Ta’Quon Graham

Most of the production that Graham racked up during his four years on the Forty Acres came in the last two seasons. But he showed flashes for the Longhorns during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns too.

Over the course of the last two years combined, Graham was one of the most reliable and productive players along the front seven for the men in burnt orange. In the last two seasons combined, Graham racked up 17.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble.

Graham also had a solid showing throughout the NFL Draft scouting process. He ran a decently fast sub 4.9 second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Draft Combine a couple of months ago and put up 32 reps on the bench press. Other significant showings for him at the combine included a 4.68 second shuttle time, 32.5-inch vertical leap, and a 113-inch broad jump.

Right away, Graham should compete for reps in a backup role with the Falcons as a bigger defensive end or smaller defensive tackle. He really is a solid versatile fit in the Falcons 4-3 defensive scheme. Watch out for him specifically compete with the likes of defensive ends Barkevious Mingo and Brandon Copeland and defensive tackle John Cominsky for reps moving forward.

Texas now has three players off of the board in the 2021 NFL Draft. The first was the offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi landing with Washington Football Team 51st overall in the second round. And then the next was outside linebacker/edge rusher Joseph Ossai landing with the Cincinnati Bengals 69th overall in the third round.