Falcons to work out Clemson duo, Branch and Thompson
Andre Branch runs through a drill at the NFL combine on Feb. 27. (Associated Press)
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith will be part of the contingent working out defensive end/linebacker Andre Branch (6-4, 259) and defensive tackle Brandon Thompson (6-2, 315) on Tuesday at Clemson.
Here’s a Draft Spotlight on Branch –> Draft spotlight: Clemson DE Andre Branch
Thompson, of Thomasville, is also a projected Top 50 pick by Pro Football Weekly.
The Falcons have the 55th pick overall and may have to trade up to be in the hunt for Branch or Thompson.
Clemson defensive lineman Brandon Thompson, of Thomasville, runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Thompson, a run stuffer, was a second-team All-ACC selection last season.
Falcons Draft Selections
The Falcons traded away their first and fourth round picks of the 2012 draft as part of the Julio Jones trade with the Cleveland Browns.
2nd Round (No. 55 overall)
3rd Round (No. 84 overall)
5th Round (No. 157 overall)
6th Round (No. 192 overall)
7th Round (No. 229 overall)
7th Round (Compensatory Selection, No. 249 overall)
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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28 comments Add your comment
Rise Up!
April 9th, 2012
5:18 pm
First!
txdawg
April 9th, 2012
5:23 pm
second! Should DT with the first pick?
Eeh
April 9th, 2012
5:35 pm
Thompson would be a solid pick, but Andre Branch is definitely overrated. I’d rather have Vinny Curry
Nookah
April 9th, 2012
5:46 pm
Smoking mirrors DLed. You should know TD by now.
Row 3
April 9th, 2012
6:01 pm
They are exploring all the options of who could drop to 55.
BCS Tiger
April 9th, 2012
6:02 pm
Would love to see either of them a Falcon. Two BIG TIME studs on D.
Sid
April 9th, 2012
6:16 pm
Them mirrors sure are smoking!
John
April 9th, 2012
7:30 pm
This is the way you build your team thru the Offensive and Defensive Lines. I would not mind seeing either in a Falcons uniform. DLED, Is this draft supposedly deep in O and D line talent?
Atlanta Falcons | Skinny Post
April 10th, 2012
12:33 am
[...] – ajc.com Falcons Blog Falcons | Will work out two Clemson players 04/09 – kffl.com Falcons to work out Clemson duo, Branch and Thompson 04/09 – ajc.com Falcons Blog NFL commissioner Goodell upholds Saints suspensions 04/09 [...]
AlanFalcon
April 10th, 2012
8:33 am
Falcons have got to go with a DL or OL if a good one is avaliable, anything else would be a mistake and can we please go with one that hasn’t had major kneee surgery.
North FLA Falcon
April 10th, 2012
8:50 am
Either of these guys would be great. Clemson has solid players and a great strength program so they should be beasts in the weight room too. Sign em up and go Falcons!
Jeff B
April 10th, 2012
9:56 am
+1 for what John said.
Let’s beef up the lines!
yourpoliticalanimal
April 10th, 2012
11:48 am
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz . . . wake me when the Bills’ pic is up . . .
NewYork1
April 10th, 2012
12:14 pm
both are good players
NewYork1
April 10th, 2012
12:16 pm
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Steve O
April 10th, 2012
12:20 pm
Sounds like Peria Jerry is officially on the way out if we pick Thompson.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 10th, 2012
2:22 pm
yourpoliticalanimal – Where should we place the wake up call?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 10th, 2012
2:34 pm
Nookah — Smoke and mirror or due diligence?
dirtybirdistheword
April 10th, 2012
3:14 pm
i like the Brandon Thompson guy. big strong space eater and also a great pass rusher. wouldnt mind drafting him.
mark
April 10th, 2012
4:21 pm
Dled I am thinking D-end or CB? I mean we to replace Grimes if we can not sign him long term and Abe is long in the tooth your thougts? Is it July yet baseball season already sucks.
85% Sports | 2012 NFL Draft Team Interests | 85% Sports
April 10th, 2012
7:27 pm
[...] Chandler Jones DE, Syracuse – source Andre Branch DE/OLB, Clemson (private workout) – source Tim Fugger DE/OLB, Vanderbilt (facility visit) – source Brandon Thompson DT, Clemson (private [...]
FalconJim
April 10th, 2012
7:28 pm
Either, or would be fine with me. But let’s not forget the O-line…
hbcuclassics
April 11th, 2012
12:41 pm
HBCU Classic Sports
Top 10 DB
1. Christian Thompson, SC State
2. Dominique Ellis, SC State
3. Micah Pellerin, Hampton
4. Justin Ferrell, NC A&T
5. Moses Ellis, Prairie View
6. Lanny Kelly, Howard
7. James Harrell, Ark Pine-Bluff
8. DeVonte Reynolds, Norfolk State
9. Dajuan Williams, FV State
10. Alton Keaton, Winston Salem
http://www.hbcuclassics.com
BIRDSFLYHIGH
April 11th, 2012
12:43 pm
Diligence!
Falcons Work Out Brandon Thompson, Andre Branch | XSDirect
April 11th, 2012
7:37 pm
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EB
April 11th, 2012
8:55 pm
We must always keep improving the oline AND the dline, their play on the field will always play a HUGE role in the outcome of most games but I would say we should focus a great deal more on the LB, CB, FS, & SS positions, before we go after a DT or DE in this draft!! They need way more help than the front four we have now imo!
Sec128 Season Ticket Holder
April 12th, 2012
10:03 am
We need a “BIG MEAN Azz” D-Tackle or Nose Guard…..
FEATURED ARTICLE: Atlanta Falcons Potential Draft Target: Andre Branch | Falcons - NFC South Daily | Atlanta Falcons Blog
April 15th, 2012
4:29 am
[...] most importantly for the future of this team is the defensive end position. A player that has been worked out by the Falcons only a few short days ago, Branch would be a tremendous weapon for rushing the passer if the [...]