re: 2013 Atlanta Falcons Draft Thread

beat me to it

I would love to see us package a 2nd, 4th, and maybe even a 7th to start off the draft.


Possible players of interest besides DE:
Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State
Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

I know DE is a big need, but if Abe is in talks with coming back, DT is an issue that needs to be looked at.

Also, losing two offensive linemen was bad enough, but Clabo was a great tackle. Not sure if the Falcons already have a great strategy to replace him, but Menelik Watson could be an immediate starter.

He is a star in waiting. I just want the Falcons to look at all angles for us to get this superbowl this year. If Abe doesn't come back, which is most likely, a DE, especially Tank, is a no brainier.


If he does come back though, it does make our next pick interesting.
Personally, in next years draft, I would be okay with us trading that years 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the next years 1st to get Clowney.

Yeah, brain fart.

From Pat Yasinskas the ESPN NFC South blogger:

Now that I’ve had a little time to reflect, I’m going to give each NFC South team a grade for the first round of the draft.

Atlanta Falcons: They addressed their biggest need by choosing cornerback Desmond Trufant. They traded up a bit to do it, but the cost wasn’t as high as if they had jumped up for Dee Milliner. I’m not sure the difference between Trufant and Milliner is all that great. Trufant is NFL-ready and he brings the same kind of swagger that Atlanta cornerback Asante Samuel and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon have. A little more swagger on the Atlanta defense can only help. Grade: B-plus.

Carolina Panthers: Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei fills a need that had been exploited far too long. The Panthers got him at No. 14. Lotulelei’s stock might have fallen a bit after a medical scare, but he has been medically cleared. Prior to the medical situation, Lotuelei was talked about as a potential first overall pick. The Panthers might have walked away with the best defensive tackle in the draft. Grade: A.

New Orleans Saints: They took safety Kenny Vaccaro. There’s no doubt the New Orleans secondary needed help. Vaccaro should be an impact player. I have no real problem with the pick, but I have to wonder why the Saints, who put a terrible defense on the field last season, went with a safety. Good defense starts with the front seven and I have to wonder if the Saints would have been better off going with a pass-rusher. Grade: B.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They didn’t have a pick in the first round, but I still think the Bucs are a much better team than they were a week ago. They surrendered their first-round pick to the Jets as part of the trade for cornerback Darrelle Revis. Did you see anyone available at No. 13 that would have helped the Bucs more than Revis will? I didn’t. Grade: B.

Pat Yasinskas has a live chat going on the NFC South blog now...I got one question answered

quote:

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beaver (oxford, ms)

you keep saying the Falcons filled their last need and are just now building depth but wouldn't you agree that defensive end is a bit of a need right now?
Pat Yasinskas (1:03 PM)

Yeah, they could use another pass-rusher type. But it's not a desperate need. Right now, they could take the field with Umenyiora and Biermann and at least be decent.

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someone followed with this

quote:

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Eliot (NY, NY) [via mobile]

I know you said ATL could take the field with Osi and Biermann and be fine but considering they have no other immediate needs and that not many DEs were taken late last night, could you see them moving up in the 2nd for Carradine or Hunt?
Pat Yasinskas (1:07 PM)

Wouldn't rule that out.

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Hasn't Umenyiora only been a situational pass rusher the past few years?
We do need someone else, but I think we also need a DT as well.

Do not want.