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NFL Draft - 5th Round: Grady Jarrett Selected by Falcons, Bradley Pinion Selected by 49ers

With the first selection of the 5th round, the Atlanta Falcons further improved their defense by selecting Conyers, GA native, Grady Jarrett.

By Ryan Kantor
Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports

Grady Jarrett joins Vic Beasley and Stephone Anthony as the third player from the nation's best defense to be taken in the NFL Draft. Also selected in the fifth round was Clemson junior punter, Bradley Pinion.

Jarrett was one of the most integral players on Clemson's #1 defense. As a senior, he furthered his reputation as one of the best run-stuffers in the NCAA, even slowing high-powered offenses like those of the Yellow Jackets and Seminoles. He also displayed his ability to get after the QB as Falcohlics called him a "sneaky-effective pass rusher."

Jarrett is a native of Conyers, GA, a suburb just East of Atlanta, and in a pre-draft interview, admitted he would love to join his hometown team.

After trading their 5th and 6th round picks to move up to the first selection of the 5th round, the Falcons made Jarrett's dream come true by picking him 137th overall. An interview with the Falcons after the selection may shed some light onto why he slipped into the 5th round, as well as why Atlanta wanted him bad enough to trade up.

The Falcons have now added Vic Beasley at DE/OLB, Jalen Collins (LSU) at CB, and Grady Jarrett at DL. They'll be under the leadership of new coach Dan Quinn, who led some of the NFL's best defenses during his time with the Seahawks.

The only thing that could put a damper on the great news for the two Georgians from Clemson now headed to their local team is a nasty home fire that destroyed much of the Jarretts' family home. Fortunately, nobody was hurt and Falcons' owner Arthur Blank is rushing clothes over as soon as possible.

Grady Jarrett wasn't the only Clemson player making waves on Saturday. Bradley Pinion made good on his unorthodox decision to leave early as the 49ers chose the Clemson punter with the 29th pick of the 5th round (165th overall).

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