INDIANAPOLIS -- The Atlanta Falcons seem likely to target an impactful defensive lineman or speedy linebacker with the 17th overall pick in this year's NFL draft.

If the Falcons proceed with such, ESPN Insider Louis Riddick believes there's a variety of players that fit the mold. But Riddick firmly believes one position should be valued over the other.

"Let's just say you have people who are equally graded. You're always going to go with the pass-rusher," Riddick said. "There's a bunch of good, big people in this draft, I think, that they probably have to look at that. They still need Vic Beasley to come on. They still have one of the worst pass-rushing teams in the NFL. You've got to fix that.

"You'll be able to find linebackers. They're not throwaway positions like people used to think they were back when I was scouting six, seven years ago. But you've got to take care of the pass rush [first]."

Some of the players pegged to the Falcons' first-round pick in mock drafts include Clemson pass-rushers Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, Eastern Kentucky and former Ohio State pass-rusher Noah Spence, Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith, Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland, and Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, to name a few.

"Shaq Lawson probably will be in play there," Riddick said. "Spence will be long gone. Obviously, [Joey] Bosa will be long gone. DeForest Buckner will be long gone. But there will be some interesting guys, some hybrid types in there that the Falcons could really use in their kind of system to play that so-called, Leo type of pass-rusher.

"Noah Spence, that's probably one of the more interesting guys to watch just to see where he comes in on the first round because of the character concerns and where do people feel comfortable taking him. He's probably the best pure pass-rusher in this draft, bar none, including Joey Bosa."

Riddick emphasized his thoughts about one particular player.

"I really like Shaq Lawson," Riddick said. "And I like his teammate Dodd who was down there on the other side at Clemson. Lawson is just a little big bigger, but they both can get after it. They are both multi-dimensional, two-point, three-point stance-type people. Those guys will be available in there.

"Shaq Lawson will be a good player. He's dynamite."

Riddick said he wouldn't consider Lee with the 17th overall pick.

"I like Darron Lee, but if you notice how they play at Ohio State, they always try to keep him in space because he's small. He's run-and-hit linebacker. That's cool because you know out in Seattle, Dan Quinn had people who were like that. ...I don't think you want to take that kind of player that height unless they are super special. He's not a Jaylon Smith-type player."

The issue with Notre Dame's Smith, of course, is he's coming off an ACL/MCL tear and might have to take a "redshirt" season during his rookie campaign. Smith is likely to start the season on the physically unable to perform list, based on whispers down at the combine after medical evaluations.

"There's a lot of speculation on just how significant the injury is," Riddick said of Smith. "They have to figure out whether or not he has nerve damage in that knee; how it's affecting his foot. That could go a lot of different ways, man. He could go from conceivably the best player in this draft to a kid who could be hanging in the balance based on that knee."