When the Falcons tabbed Ra’Shede Hageman in the 2014 NFL Draft, management understood he’d be something of a project. Thomas Dimitroff and Co. knew he wouldn’t be a major contributor right away like some of the other players available at 37th overall. They knew there were safer bets to be made, but they saw potential in him.
They also recognized that, if he were to be worth the selection, he’d need a proper mentor to show him the ropes. Certainly, Bryan Cox has fit the bill.
Cox and Hageman gained widespread attention last summer, as Hard Knocks cameras frequently caught the abrasive D-line coach berating his new protégé.