The Collegian
Friday, March 29, 2024

Atlanta Falcons draft Sidbury in fourth round

The Atlanta Falcons have selected defensive end Lawrence Sidbury Jr. in the fourth round of Sunday's NFL Draft.

Sidbury -- the No. 125 pick overall -- declared for the draft after his redshirt senior season, in which he recorded 11.5 sacks, 20 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles en route to first team All-CAA honors and invitations to the East-West Shrine Game and NFL Scouting Combine.

"He's someone we realized had some great potential," said Jim Miller, director of athletics. "He has really worked hard to learn how to play the game -- to get bigger, stronger, and faster -- much like Tim Hightower. This is a great end to his college career.

"You have no idea what will happen in the future, but it's great for him to get a chance. I'm sure he'll really impress the Falcons."

The Falcons won the NFC South division last year but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Hightower and the Arizona Cardinals. The Falcons are led by second-year quaterback Matt Ryan and defensive end John Abraham on defense.

"Sidbury's very happy and excited to be selected by the Falcons," Richmond coach Mike London said. "He's in a situation with a great franchise qb and a franchise that's turned around."

USA Today predicted that Sidbury would get drafted in the third round while other mock drafts had him going as early as the second round.

"I'm sure he saw guys go ahead of him that he had better times than," London said. "The draft is always funny. Teams draft on needs or based on their board [of top prospects]. In the end, as a fourth-round pick and his best football ahead of him, Lawrence is an interesting pick."

At February's Scouting Combine, Sidbury ran the fastest 40-yard dash of all defensive linemen and was touted as one of the biggest surprises at this year's draft by sports pundits. Those times made him a possibility to play a linebacker spot in a 3-4 defense. London expects to see Sidbury on the defensive line for the Falcons.

"The Falcons have a need for defensive ends," London said. "Lawrence is only 266. He can easily fit to be a rush end. He was worked out by their defensive line coach Ray Hamilton when we had our pro-day."

Sidbury will most likely be playing on the right side of the defensive line and going up against left tackles. Left tackles are usually the most skilled offensive linemen as they protect the blind side of the quarterback.

Sidbury, a Cheltenham, Md., native, will join fellow Spiders Hightower, Arman Shields, and Paris Lenon in the NFL.

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Pick No. 125 has been filled by Spiders during the past two years. Last year, Shields -- a wide receiver who missed the whole year with an injury -- was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in that spot.

Sidbury, a 6-foot-2-inch, 266-pound defensive end, became the third Football Championship Subdivision player picked during the draft after cornerback Derek Cox, from the College of William & Mary, was taken at No. 73 by the Jacksonville Jaguars and cornerback Lardarius Webb, from Nicholls State University, was taken at No. 88 by the Baltimore Ravens.

Sidbury was the fourth player Atlanta chose during the NFL Draft. It used its first-round pick to select defensive tackle Peria Jerry from the University of Mississippi and a second round pick on safety William Moore from the University of Missouri. Chris Owens -- a cornerback from San Jose State University -- was the team's third-round pick.

Sidbury may not be the last Spider to join the NFL this year. ESPN.com has also listed tight end Joe Stewart, offensive lineman Tim Silver, running back Josh Vaughan and defensive end Sherman Logan as draft prospects.

"All of these guys have a chance to be in someone's camp," London said. "Whether they get drafted or signed as free agents [after the draft], they all have a chance."

Collegian reporter Dan Petty contributed reporting for this story.

This version of the story adds quotes from Miller and London and will be updated as more information becomes available. Contact staff writer Andrew Prezioso at andrew.prezioso@richmond.edu and staff writer Nick Mider at nick.mider@richmond.edu

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