a look at the nfl teams and what

INSIDE THE
NFL DRAFT
FALCONS 2009
REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Compiled by Alex Ewalt
THE
HISTORY
The f irst professional football
draft was held February 8, 1936,
at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in
Philadelphia. The f irst player
taken was Jay Berwanger, from the
University of Chicago, by the
Philadelphia Eagles, which subsequently traded his rights to the
Chicago Bears.
THE
FORMAT
There are seven rounds. Each team is
assigned a selection in each round, with
the team with the worst record from the
previous year being assigned the first
pick in each round. The team with the
second-worst record gets the second pick,
and so on until the 32nd and last team
(the team that won the Super Bowl)
makes its selection.
THE
HOST
The NFL Draft has been in New York
City since 1965 and has had to move
into bigger digs as the event has gained
popularity, drawing fans from across
the country that are looking for a reason
to paint their faces in April. The 2009
draft will be held at Radio City Music
Hall, the fourth time this venue has
hosted the gala.
WHO IS
ELIGIBLE
The draft is the first chance each team
gets at players who have been out of high
school for at least three years. Players
whose high school class did not graduate
three or more years before are not eligible
for the draft and hence are not eligible to
play in the NFL. Most drafted players
come directly out of college programs as
seniors or juniors.
HOW IT WORKS
Each team has its representatives attend the draft. During the draft, one team is
always “on the clock,” and commissioner Roger Goodell announces the picks. In
Round 1, teams have 10 minutes to make their choice. The decision time drops to
seven minutes in the second round and to five minutes in Rounds 3-7. If a team doesn’t make a decision within its allotted time, the team still can submit its selection at
any time after its time is up, but the next team can pick before it and possibly steal a
player the tardy team may have been eyeing.
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WRITE DOWN THE FALCONS PICKS...
First round (24th overall)
Second round (55th overall)
Third round (90th overall)
Fourth round (125th overall)
Fifth round (138th overall)
Fifth round (143rd overall)
Sixth round (176th overall)
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The 2009 Draft Guide is a joint effort between the Atlanta
Falcons and Score Atlanta, a full-service sports marketing company that handles print, web, web video, radio and event activation. The number at the Score office is 404-256-1572. The
cover photo was taken by Falcons photographer Jimmy Cribb.
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vs. MIAMI
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
vs. CAROLINA
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
at NEW ENGLAND
Gillette Stadium
Foxborough, MA
Falcons head coach Mike Smith edged Dolphins coach
Tony Sparano in Coach of the Year voting, as both teams
made the playoffs with 11-5 records. This matchup
between the two second-year head coaches will pit two
of the league’s up and coming teams against each other.
Atlanta put the pedal to the metal offensively the last time
Carolina visited. A 45-28 win still seems fresh, as does the
Falcons near miss on a 2008 division crown thanks to the
Panthers. Jake Delhomme and the Panthers will try and
get a leg up on the Birds in the teams’ divisional openers.
Thomas Dimitroff travels with the team he helped build to
the site of a majority of his scouting education. The
Falcons have played the Patriots, who celebrate 50 years
as a franchise this season, just 11 times since 1966.
Tom Brady should be back and healthy to lead the Pats.
at SAN FRANCISCO Atlanta was 2-0 in California last season but the 49ers presCandlestick Park
San Francisco, CA
vs. CHICAGO
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
at DALLAS
Cowboys Stadium
Dallas, TX
at NEW ORLEANS
Superdome
New Orleans, LA
vs. WASHINGTON
ent a different set of challenges. A new head coach and a
hunger to win the NFC West could play a role when these
two teams meet. As of now, however, the Niners have
some unresolved issues at positions like quarterback.
Who can forget the last time these teams met at The
Georgia Dome? Matt Ryan to Michael Jenkins with seconds to play, game-winning field goal by Jason Elam.
Will history repeat itself with another great game? The
Falcons get home-field advantage again this year.
Dallas opens a new stadium in 2009 but that's not the
only reason for excitement as these NFC foes meet for
the first time since 2006. Former Falcons linebacker Keith
Brooking is now a Cowboy, and he’ll have to stop the
running of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood.
Quarterback Matt Ryan showed some moxie and
rushed for his first professional touchdown in a loss
at New Orleans last season. This time the Birds look
to get over the hump in the Louisiana Superdome,
where they absorbed a 29-25 loss in ‘08.
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
Former Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall returns to
Atlanta with Albert Haynesworth and the Redskins.
Washington is 14-5 all-time against the Birds but lost the
last meeting between the teams. ‘Skins head coach Jim
Zorn is thinking playoffs in his second year at the helm.
at CAROLINA
The Battle of I-85 enters its 15th year, as these rivals
square off in Charlotte, N.C. The Falcons have played well
Bank of America Stadium on the road at Bank of America Stadium, but lost their
Charlotte, NC
appearance there in 2008. This midseason matchup
could have big implications in the NFC South standings.
at NY GIANTS
The Falcons get to see former linebacker Michael Boley
as they look to make a statement against the Super Bowl
XLII champions and one of the more solid teams in the
NFC. Giants QB Eli Manning won’t have Plaxico Burress
to throw to anymore, but New York is still dangerous.
Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
vs. TAMPA BAY
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
The Falcons beat Tampa Bay 13-10 in overtime the last
time the Bucs visited the Dome. This time, the Birds
must deal with some new faces, including head coach
Raheem Morris. Famed defensive coordinator Monte
Kiffin, a mainstay in Tampa, has departed, however.
vs. PHILADELPHIA The Eagles and Falcons meet for the fourth time in the
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
last five years. It's the first trip to Atlanta for Philadelphia
since the 2005 season — a 14-10 season-opening win
for the Falcons. The Birds suffered a tough, last-second
loss to Donovan McNabb and the Eagles last season.
vs. NEW ORLEANS The Saints spent the offseason working on the defense
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
at NY JETS
The Meadowlands
East Rutherford, NJ
vs. BUFFALO
but it was the offense that made mistakes the last time
these teams met at The Georgia Dome, as Erik Coleman
picked off Drew Brees’s first pass. Brees and Co. will
go for a big divisional win in this contest.
Three times in 2009 the Falcons play a team with a rookie head coach, including the Jets' Rex Ryan. A revamped,
Baltimore-style defense awaits the Falcons in the Big
Apple, where the Jets will have their third different quarterback in three years after Brett Favre’s retirement.
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, GA
The last regular-season game between these teams was
in 2005 in Buffalo. The Bills will bring a handful of new
players, including wide receiver Terrell Owens, on this
rare visit to Atlanta. Buffalo and head coach Dick Jauron
are hoping those investments bring a playoff berth in ’09.
at TAMPA BAY
An early interception and other mistakes rattled the
Falcons the last time out in Tampa. But, a near comeback
Raymond James Stadium in the second half showed the team had some fight in
Tampa, FL
2008. Each team will very likely be jockeying for playoff
position in this important game to close the season.
Addition of Gonzalez allows Falcons to focus on improving defense through draft
oming off an 11-5 regular season and a
playoff berth, the Falcons certainly have
a strong foundation of talented young players. There is, however, always room for
improvement through the draft, and general
manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach
Mike Smith will be looking at certain areas
of need when draft weekend kicks off on
Saturday. The long-rumored acquisition of
tight end Tony Gonzalez frees the team up to
address other positions in the early rounds;
before his acquisition, Oklahoma State’s
Brandon Pettigrew and Florida’s Cornelius
Ingram were several players that might have
heard their names called had the Falcons not
traded their second-round pick (No. 55 overall) for the veteran pass-catching weapon.
But here are some of the names that Falcons
fans should keep in mind this weekend.
C
DEFENSE …
Secondary: The departures of Lawyer
Milloy and Domonique Foxworth leave two
starting spots up for grabs, and second-year
man Chris Houston had some up and down
moments. Considering all of those questions,
expect the Falcons to address their secondary
with at least a couple of picks this weekend.
There figure to be a few strong corners available at No. 24. Vontae Davis (pictured
below) would be the ideal pick if he’s
there. A physical corner who flashed the
ability to be a shutdown guy in coverage
at Illinois, Davis would be just what
the doctor ordered. His excellent
size gives him the ability to take
some of the pressure off of
Houston, especially against bigger
receivers like he will see in the NFL.
Davis won’t be the only option, as
the position is one of the deepest in
the draft. Wake Forest’s Alphonso
Smith, UConn’s Darius Butler, and
Vanderbilt’s D.J. Moore are all
nice prospects, and at least a couple should still be around when
Atlanta
drafts
in
the
second round.
O u t s i d e
Linebacker:
Mike
Peterson will replace
Keith Brooking at one
outside linebacker position, but the other
outside position is in question. The coaching staff loved Coy Wire, who provided
much-needed contributions down the
stretch. But it’s hard to envision the
seven-year pro, who hasn’t been a
consistent starter since his rookie
season, would be the man on
opening day (although it’s certainly possible). Atlanta started
a rookie at linebacker last season in Curtis Lofton, and it
worked out quite well, so it
wouldn’t surprise anyone to
see them go down that road
again. Southern Cal linebackers Clay Matthews and Brian
Cushing (pictured right) will
both be considered if they’re
still on the board when Atlanta
drafts. Matthews is a former
walk-on with a non-stop
motor, while Cushing was the
more decorated of the two in
college, earning second-team
All-American honors last
fall. Paul Kruger of Utah
has the skills to be a solid
linebacker with few weaknesses, and could
be available in round two. Later picks
could go to Cody Brown of Utah, or
Jonathan Casillas of Wisconsin.
Defensive line: There figure to be several jobs
open on the defensive
line as well. Grady
Jackson left the
team, leaving a
likely battle for
his position in
training camp. Peria
Jerry is one of the quickest and most
athletic tackles available, but he has
durability issues. If Jerry can stay
healthy, he could develop into an effective
space-eater in the middle that could do wonders for the run defense. There are plenty of
familiar names peppered throughout the rest of
the class that could step in. SEC products
Sen’Derrick Marks (Auburn), Ricky JeanFrancois (LSU) and Corvey Irvin (Georgia),
could make solid additions. Dimitroff
might also look for a little help at
defensive end in the later rounds. The
team might think about bringing in a
player such as Georgia Tech’s
Michael Johnson, who has all
the tools but will take time
to develop into a sound
defensive end, or Ian
Campbell, who accumulated over 100 tackles in his
junior year before taking a
step back last fall. Either
could
push
Jamaal
Anderson in camp for his
starting spot.
OFFENSE …
The offense appears to be in safe
hands with Matt Ryan heading the
charge and a talented group of wide
receivers catching balls. There is
always a need to build depth across
the board, but only one true area of
need remains on a steady and solid
offensive unit.
Offensive line: The unit was
solid last year but could stand
to get better. Tyson Clabo
could use some help at offensive tackle, and the position is
loaded with talent in this year’s
draft class. Ole Miss tackle
Michael Oher would be hard to
pass up if he’s available. Oher was
a monster in college while lining up
against some of the best defensive linemen the
country had to offer in the SEC. He was also
very good early in his college career, starting
all four seasons in Oxford. Arizona’s Ebon
Britton is a cerebral and durable tackle that
might be available for a second- or third-rounder. Other names to look for are UConn’s
William Beatty and Oklahoma’s Phil Loadholt.
Sleepers: There are always a few playmakers dispersed throughout the later rounds
of the draft, and while Atlanta’s front office
has made it fairly clear that it plans to spend
most of its picks on the defense, the Falcons
might take a flyer on at least a few of them in
the latter stages of the draft to help round out
the offense. Wide receiver Ramses Barden
(pictured below) is a potential diamond in the
rough. Although he played his football at Cal
Poly, he has the body, at 6-6, 230 pounds, to
develop into a nice option at wideout, and
could produce as a red-zone target immediately. Proven college players such as Wisconsin
running back P.J. Hill or 6-7, 365-pound offensive guard Herman Johnson of LSU, would be
welcome additions to the roster.
Photos courtesy of the University of
Illinois, the University of Southern California
and Cal Poly. Bagriansky can be reached at
jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
A LOOK AT THE NFL TEAMS AND
SOUTH
Atlanta
Falcons
Picks: 24, 55, 90,
125,138, 143, 176
Last year the Falcons ranked 28th and 29th
in the league covering tight ends and running
backs, respectively, making linebacker a
huge priority. Two USC linebackers, Clay
Matthews and Brian Cushing, are legitimate
options here, as is Oklahoma State’s
Brandon Pettigrew if the Falcons wish to give
Matt Ryan a reliable tight end to throw to.
Carolina
Panthers
Picks: 59, 93, 128,
163, 202
The Panthers are without a first-round
selection, but will look to address the
defensive line, defensive backfield and the
receiver position when they are first on the
clock with the 59th pick. Texas defensive
tackle Roy Miller is a definite possibility as
is Missouri’s Ziggy Hood.
New Orleans
Saints
Picks: 14, 116, 118,
222
With only a single day one pick, the Saints
have little room for error with the No. 14
selection. Cornerback is a big-time priority, but this draft lacks first-round quality
at the position. On offense, the Saints are
without a true, between-the-tackles runner
and Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells
could be their answer.
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
Picks: 19, 81, 120, 155,
191, 217, 229, 233
The Bucs would love to get a quarterback
with the 19th pick and have their eyes on
Josh Freeman, but the team really has too
many needs to take such a big risk so high.
With the loss of linebackers Derrick Brooks
and Cato June and defensive coordinator
Monte Kiffin, look for Tampa to address
defense early; Mississippi tackle Peria
Jerry can be a big-time run stuffer.
NORTH
Chicago
Bears
Picks: 49, 99, 119,
140, 154, 190, 246
After trading with Denver for quarterback
Jay Cutler, the Bears are without a firstround pick in 2009. Now that Cutler is
aboard, Chicago will look to give their new
gunslinger someone to throw to and, with
the 49th pick, Florida tight end Cornelius
Ingram and Georgia wideout Mohamed
Massaquoi may both be considered.
Detroit
Lions
Picks: 1, 20, 33, 65,
82, 174, 192, 255
According to reports, Georgia quarterback
Matthew Stafford will be the player chosen
with the top overall pick. Yet, with Drew
Stanton and Daunte Culpepper already in
Detroit, and considering how risky a selection Stafford really is, the Lions would be
wise to use the pick on an offensive lineman
like Jason Smith or Alabama’s Andre Smith.
Green Bay
Packers
Picks: 9, 41, 73, 83,
109, 145, 182, 187,
218
Moving to the 3-4 defensive scheme, the
Packers could use considerable help at the
outside linebacker and defensive tackle
positions. Expect Green Bay to take the
best talent available at a position of need
when it selects ninth overall and, if still
around, Boston College defensive tackle
B.J. Raji fits the billing perfectly.
Minnesota
Vikings
Picks: 22, 54, 86, 158,
221, 231
The Vikings are on the brink of Super Bowl
contention and are really just a quarterback
and receiver away from reaching such a
point. Kansas State quarterback Josh
Freeman will be an option, though he is far
from a sure upgrade over incumbent
Tarvaris Jackson. Expect, then, Minnesota to
go with the best skill player available at 22.
WEST
Arizona
Cardinals
Picks: 31, 63, 95, 131,
167, 204, 240, 254
Arizona ranked among the league’s worst
in run production last year and the playoffrejuvenated Edgerrin James won’t be
around in 2009. The draft’s top two backs
– Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno and Ohio
State’s Beanie Wells – should both be
gone by 31, making Pittsburgh’s LeSean
McCoy and Connecticut’s Donald Brown
the most likely candidates.
San Francisco
49ers
Picks: 10, 43, 74, 111,
146, 171, 184, 219,
244
Since the Alex Smith plan for the future hasn’t exactly worked out, the Niners could look
to go with a quarterback here, but Matthew
Stafford will be gone and Mark Sanchez
doesn’t seem to fit in San Francisco. Expect
the 49ers to look for help rushing the quarterback, going with either Aaron Maybin
(Penn State) or Brian Orakpo (Texas).
Seattle
Seahawks
Picks: 4, 37, 68, 105,
137, 178, 213, 245,
247, 248
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is aging and
injury-prone, leading many experts to
believe USC quarterback Mark Sanchez
will be the guy when the Seahawks pick at
No. 4. We believe that is too high for
Sanchez, however, meaning Seattle may
address their needs at tackle by taking
Eugene Monroe (Virginia) or at safety,
selecting Malcolm Jenkins.
St. Louis
Rams
Picks: 2, 35, 66, 103,
160, 196, 211
The six remaining wideouts from the
Rams’ 2008 roster had a combined 24
catches last year, making receiver a top
priority on day one. Offensive tackle is
also a huge need, however, and, with the
second overall pick, expect the Rams to go
for the best value available by grabbing
Baylor left tackle Jason Smith.
EAST
Dallas
Cowboys
Picks: 51, 69, 101, 117,
156, 166, 172, 197,
208, 210, 227
Dallas is without a first-round pick and
recently released the embittered Roy
Williams, making safety a huge priority
with the 51st selection. As for the talent at
the position, Missouri’s William Moore,
Western Michigan’s Louis Delmas and
Oregon’s Patrick Chung are all legitimate
possibilities in the middle of round two.
NY GIANTS
Picks: 29, 45, 60, 91,
100, 129, 151, 164,
200, 238
The G-Men have needs at outside linebacker
and offensive tackle, but with the recent
departure of wideout Plaxico Burress and
some quality depth available at the receiver
position in 2009, look for New York to go
offensive in round one. Former Tar Heel
Hakeem Nicks is a quality possession guy and
should be around when the Giants pick 29th.
Philadelphia
Eagles
Picks: 21, 53, 85,
141, 153, 157, 159,
194, 195, 230
A recent trade with Buffalo for Pro Bowl left
tackle Jason Peters filled Philly’s biggest
need, meaning the Eagles can now focus
on running backs and receivers when they
make their pick at 21. Georgia running
back Knowshon Moreno is an option as is
Florida receiver Percy Harvin and
Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Washington
Redskins
Picks: 13, 80, 150,
186, 243
The ‘Skins signed defensive tackle Albert
Haynesworth in the offseason and he will
no doubt improve a defense that ranked
29th in the league in total sacks. Still, the
loss of defensive end Jason Taylor hurts
and Washington will almost certainly look
for a pass rusher as a result. LSU’s Tyson
Jackson and Tennessee’s Robert Ayers will
both be considered.
WHAT THEY NEED IN THE DRAFT
SOUTH
Houston
Texans
Picks: 15, 46, 77, 112,
122, 152, 188, 223
The Texans’ biggest needs lie along the
defensive line and at safety, but there is little chance quality players at either position
will be available at 15. Considering
Houston ranked 30th in rush defense last
year, linebacker is another good position
for the Texans to explore and USC’s Brian
Cushing is the most likely of choices.
Indianapolis
Colts
Picks: 27, 61, 92, 127,
136, 165, 201, 236
With the departure of Marvin Harrison, the
Colts may look to grab a wide receiver with
their first-round pick, but the team has also
been trying to improve at the defensive
tackle position for years and this may be
the draft in which they do just that. If
Mississippi’s Peria Jerry is still around,
he’s the guy. Otherwise, you may see the
Colts reach for Missouri’s Evander Hood.
Jacksonville
Jaguars
Picks: 8, 39, 72, 107,
144, 180, 232, 250,
253
Jacksonville was home to the league’s second-worst pass defense last year, but, at
No. 8, there is simply no cornerback worth
taking. As a result, look for the Jags to
address their lack of playmakers and either
Jeremy Maclin of Missouri or Florida’s
Percy Harvin would be great picks here.
Tennessee
Titans
Picks: 30, 62, 94, 130,
135, 173, 203, 206,
239, 242
The loss of Albert Haynesworth could make
the defensive tackle position worth exploring
and the Titans could also look at taking talented Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis if he
falls due to questions concerning his level of
consistency. Still, receiver remains their
biggest need and if a good one falls to 30, it’s
the direction they should go.
NORTH
Baltimore
Ravens
Picks: 26, 57, 88, 123,
162, 198
A team with few weaknesses, receiver and
cornerback are Baltimore’s two biggest
needs. If any of the draft’s top three wideouts remain when Baltimore is on the
clock, the Ravens will surely go in that
direction. Otherwise, Illinois corner Vontae
Davis is a possibility as is USC linebacker
Rey Maualuga.
Cincinnati
Bengals
Picks: 6, 38, 70, 98,
106, 142, 179, 209,
215, 249, 252
Cincinnati’s obvious need is along the
offensive line and the Bengals should
have some good ones to choose from.
Virginia tackle Eugene Monroe will likely
be available when the Bengals make their
first pick and is a dominant pass blocker.
Andre Smith will also be around and,
despite his falling stock, is a perennial
Pro Bowler in the making.
Cleveland
Browns
Picks: 5, 36, 50, 104,
177
Cleveland’s offense produced zero touchdowns in its last six games of 2008,
meaning offense will surely be on the
minds of Browns officials when Cleveland
is on the clock with the fifth overall pick.
Assuming he falls far enough, wideout
Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech is the
obvious pick for the Browns.
Pittsburgh
Steelers
Picks: 32, 64, 96, 132,
168, 169, 205, 226,
241
As expected, the Steelers have no real
glaring needs, though they can improve
in the secondary and certainly stand to
get younger along the offensive line.
When it’s Pittsburgh’s turn at 32, expect
for some talented offensive linemen to
still be hanging around and Oregon’s Max
Unger and Louisville’s Eric Wood are
Pittsburgh’s best bets.
WEST
Denver
Broncos
Picks: 12, 18, 48, 79,
84, 114, 149, 185,
225, 235
Since the trade of Cutler, the Broncos need
a quarterback about as much as any position, but Denver seems unlikely to go in
that direction. With two first-round picks,
look for the Broncos to rebuild their defensive line. If B.J. Raji falls to them at 12,
there will be little debate on who to take.
Otherwise, Everette Brown and Tyson
Jackson are real possibilities.
Kansas City
Chiefs
Picks: 3, 67, 102, 139,
175, 212, 256
The Chiefs could use help along the offensive line and also need a big-time pass
rusher, but, with the No. 3 pick, don’t expect
them to address either, unless Jason Smith
falls past two. Instead, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry should be Kansas City’s
man, as he will almost certainly be the best
player available with the third pick.
Oakland
Raiders
Picks: 7, 40, 71, 108,
126, 181, 216
The Raiders have plenty of needs, with
wide receiver and offensive tackle ranking
primary among them. Oakland could consider Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin and
Florida’s Percy Harvin, and would most
certainly snatch Texas Tech’s Michael
Crabtree if he fell far enough. In the end,
though, tackle Andre Smith is just too talented to pass on at No. 7.
San Diego
Chargers
Picks: 16, 78, 113,
133, 134, 148, 189,
224
Possibly the most stacked 8-8 team in
NFL history, San Diego’s biggest need is
probably at right tackle, but few quality
ones will be around when the Chargers
are first on the clock. San Diego would
also like to get better in the secondary
and Malcolm Jenkins could very well still
be around at 17; he would be a great fit
with the Chargers.
EAST
Buffalo
Bills
Picks: 11, 28, 42, 75,
110, 121, 147, 183,
220
There’s no doubt about it. Buffalo’s biggest
need is at defensive end and, picking No.
11 overall, the Bills should have a few good
ones to choose from. If Texas’ Brian Orakpo
is still around, he’s the guy. Otherwise,
look for the choice to come from a group
that includes Robert Ayers, Tyson Jackson,
Aaron Maybin and Everette Brown.
Miami
Dolphins
Picks: 25, 44, 56, 87,
161, 214, 237
Despite Bill Parcells’s long-standing dislike
for drafting offensive skill players, Miami’s
need at the receiver position is simply too
big to ignore. While the Dolphins could also
use help at cornerback, making Malcolm
Jenkins a reasonable possibility, expect
Miami to grab the best receiver available
when it picks in round one.
New England
Patriots
Picks: 23, 34, 47, 58,
89, 97, 124, 170,
199, 207, 234
The Patriots could use some help in the
secondary and if Malcolm Jenkins falls to
them, don’t be surprised to see New
England bite. Most likely, however, the
Patriots will address their need at outside
linebacker and, with exceptional versatility
and great upside, USC’s Clay Matthews
would be a perfect fit in New England.
New York
Jets
Picks: 17, 52, 76, 115,
193, 228
The Jets’ biggest need is at the quarterback position, but unless they trade up to
get Sanchez, there is not one worth taking
17th overall. As a result, expect New York
to address its dearth of playmakers by taking the best one available when it’s on the
clock. Most likely, that means Maryland
wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey.
The class of the league: A review of the Falcons’ landmark 2008 draft
o question about it; the Falcons’ 2008 draft
class, the first picked by general manager
Thomas Dimitroff for the organization, was a
smash hit. Let’s take a look back at the Falcons’11
picks in last year’s NFL Draft.
Matt Ryan, QB (1st round, 3rd overall):
What can you say about Matty Ice that hasn’t
already been said? The prodigy turned in one of the
best seasons by a rookie quarterback in the history
of the NFL. All Ryan did was throw for 3,440
yards and 16 touchdowns while leading his team to
the playoffs for the first time in
five seasons. His
quarterback rating of 87.7 was
11th-best in the
league and third
best ever by a
rookie. Ryan also
ran away with the
Offensive Rookie
of the Year award,
cementing himself
as one of the best
draft picks the franchise has ever made.
Sam Baker,
OT (1st round,
21st overall): The
Falcons traded up to
grab this talented Olineman in the first
round last year, and
Baker didn’t disappoint. The Tustin,
Cal., native played in
eight games last season and started five,
protecting fellow firstround pick Matt Ryan’s
blind side. The former
USC Trojan injured his back in October and
had to undergo surgery during the season. In
an amazing recovery, however, Baker
returned to the starting lineup on Dec. 15
against Tampa Bay. With Todd Weiner no
longer in Atlanta, Baker will look to return
to his starting left tackle position.
Curtis Lofton, LB (2nd round, 37th
overall): The second-rounder out of
Oklahoma started 15 games at middle linebacker for Atlanta last season. Lofton used
his 6-foot, 248-pound frame to make 67
tackles during his rookie year, good enough
for fourth-most on the team. Lofton also
managed a quarterback sack against
Donovan McNabb in the game at
Philadelphia. With Lawyer Milloy and Keith
N
Brooking leaving Atlanta, Lofton should
play an even bigger role on defense in 2009.
Chevis Jackson CB (3rd round, 68th
overall): The Falcons chose Jackson in the
third round of the draft, desperately seeking
help in the depleted secondary. The former
LSU star provided just that, playing in all 17
of the team’s games and starting two of them.
Jackson’s first season with Atlanta was highlighted by a 95-yard interception return for a
touchdown in a 34-20 win
against the rival Saints.
carries. Douglas scored three touchdowns on
the season—one reception, one rushing, and
one on a punt return. Overall, the versatile
wideout tallied 12 rushing attempts with a
long run of 33 yards.
Thomas DeCoud, S (3rd round, 98th
overall): The third round pick from Cal
played in 10 games for Atlanta in 2008 and
totaled nine tackles on the year, including a
season-high of three in the playoff game
against Arizona. DeCoud is
currently listed as second-
BIG PICKS: (From left to right) Matt Ryan, Curtis Lofton and Harry Douglas all played big roles
for the Falcons in their rookie seasons. Ryan turned in a historically good rookie campaign for
a quarterback, Lofton tallied 67 tackles and Douglas scored three important touchdowns on the
year as the three budding stars led the way for an ultra-successful 2008 draft class. Photos courtesy of Jimmy Cribb/Atlanta Falcons.
Jackson finished with 31 tackles and an
interception in 2008, as well as five pass
breakups on the year.
Harry Douglas WR (3rd round, 84th
overall): One of the biggest surprises of the
draft, the third-round pick from Louisville
was fourth on the team in receiving with 23
receptions for 320 yards. In addition to playing wide receiver, the 5-11 whirling dervish
returned kicks and punts regularly. The
Jonesboro, Ga., native also finished fourth
on the team in rushing yards with 69 on 12
string free safety, but will challenge Erik
Coleman for the starting position.
Robert James, LB (5th round, 138th
overall): The All-American from Arizona
State was drafted by the Falcons in the fifth
round but was placed on injured reserve on
Aug. 6 after suffering a concussion in practice. The Falcons have retained the rights to
James, who should figure into the linebacker
rotation for the 2009 campaign after the
departures of mainstays Keith Brooking and
Michael Boley.
Kroy Biermann, LB (5th round, 154
overall): Coming into the draft outside of
Big Sky country, the former Montana
Grizzly was a relative unknown. In fact, the
Falcons drafted him higher than most had
him projected after his stellar career in the
college football division formerly known as
I-AA. The 6-3 college linebacker would be
moved to defensive end and go on to
become the lowest pick of the 2008
Falcons’ draft to make the roster. Biermann
totaled 21 tackles and two sacks in
2008 for Atlanta.
T h o m a s
Brown, RB
(6th round,
172 overall):
Local
fans
remember
Brown from his
days at the
University of
Georgia when he
rushed for 2,646
yards in his career
with the Bulldogs.
The Tucker native
was placed on
injured reserve by
the Falcons prior to
last season after
injuring his leg
against Baltimore in a
pre-season
scrimmage. He will once
again be fighting for a
roster spot this season,
although he looked to be
in line for one last year
as a return man.
Wilrey Fontenot, CB
(7th round, 212 overall): The former
Arizona Wildcat was signed to a contract on
June 17, but was then waived on Aug. 30
during roster cuts. The native of Humble,
Tex., is now with the Arizona Cardinals
after signing with them on Feb. 4.
Keith Zinger, TE (7th round, 232
overall): The LSU product was waived
last fall when the Falcons cut their roster
to the 53-man limit. Zinger was then
signed to the practice squad, where he
remained for the 2008 season. The 6-4,
268-pound tight end will look to make the
squad this year and catch his first NFL
pass, though he excels as a blocker from
the position.
Black can be reached at
sblack@scoreatl.com.