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In the 2014 NFL draft one of the most intriguing players was Ra’Shede Hageman out of Minnesota. He showed incredible talent and athletic traits. However, teams still had questions about Hageman and if he was able to play at an NFL level.
Hageman was the perfect definition of a boom-or-bust player when teams looked at him in the draft. Hageman has all the tools to be a freakishly good and dominant player in the NFL. He stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs in around 300 pounds. He has great speed for his size and is a very athletic player. Being a converted basketball player no doubt helps Hageman with his athletic skills.
Hageman had an uneventful 2014 season, registering only 16 tackles and one sack. Fans of the Atlanta Falcons should be pleased about the arrival of new head coach Dan Quinn.
Quinn comes from the Seattle Seahawks, and he was able to use get the most out of players and put them in a position to succeed. In Seattle, Quinn had a defense full of athletic playmakers who allowed him to get creative with his packages and in turn, make them a dominating defense. With Quinn now in Atlanta, Hageman may see his stock and play rise.
Hageman has some very unique athletic traits that could potentially make him a nightmare matchup for opposing offenses. Rarely do you see a player with Hageman’s’ height, size, speed, and athletic ability. Pairing Hageman with the likes of Quinn will allow Hageman to showcase his talent and allow the Falcons to be a creative defense.
Hageman is reportedly already impressing the coaching staff with the offseason programs so far. He looks to be in better shape and is demonstrating in practice that he can make a difference. Quinn has already said he plans to use Hageman in different ways, which means you could see Hageman lined up as a defensive end or defensive tackle. But don’t be surprised if they have packages for Hageman if he’s standing up like an outside linebacker as well.
If Hageman can turn out to be the freakish player that some thought he could be coming out of the 2014 draft, the Falcons’ defense will take a big step in improving. Pairing Hageman with a coach like Dan Quinn will give Hageman every opportunity in the world to showcase what he can bring to the table. Year two is when we sometimes see rookies make the jump and Hageman is likely to be one of those guys. I expect Hageman to be an improved player this year.
