In today’s NFL it’s possible to turn around the fortunes of your franchise with just one strong draft or offseason and perhaps no team exemplifies that phenomenon better than the Atlanta Falcons. The 2007 season was nothing short of an unmitigated disaster for the Falcons and after seeing their star quarterback sent to prison and their head coach quit on them in the middle of the year it’s actually pretty amazing that they were able to squeak out four wins. Simply put, Atlanta had hit rock bottom. The hiring of Thomas Dimitroff as their general manager was the first big turning point for the Falcons and he proceeded to work the 2008 NFL Draft to perfection. The selection of Matt Ryan, as well as a bushel of other solid picks, breathed new life into the franchise and sent the team from the NFC South cellar to the penthouse. However, expectations have been raised and while their division doesn’t necessarily feature any powerhouses New Orleans, Carolina and Tampa Bay all have just as good of a shot to finish in first place in 2009 as Atlanta does. In other words the Falcons will have a real battle on their hands and they needed to come through with another strong draft if they hoped to build on the momentum they generated last year.
The fact that Atlanta nearly chose Glenn Dorsey over Matt Ryan speaks volumes about how badly they wanted to upgrade the defensive tackle position and a year later they finally got their man in Peria Jerry of Ole Miss. A quick, penetrating one-gapper who can wreak havoc in an opponents backfield, Jerry was widely considered to be the second best player available at his position after B.J. Raji and was a good value at #24 overall. Jerry is a little older than the average prospect (will be a 25-year-old rookie) and durability is a legitimate concern but if he can stay healthy he has the talent to develop into one of the most dangerous defensive tackles in the league. Outside of Jonathan Babineaux the Falcons really didn’t have much talent on the interior of their defensive line so it would be an upset if Jerry didn’t assume a starting job early on in his pro career. This was a great pick and just what the doctor ordered.
At one point early in the draft process Missouri S William Moore was considered to be a potential Top 10 overall pick so the Falcons must have been thrilled to see him still on the board late in round two. After a junior campaign in which he intercepted 8 balls and racked up 117 tackles Moore appeared to be the type of player who could be a force against the run as well as in coverage but that output was a bit of an aberration because he only picked off three passes in his other three seasons combined. However, even though he isn’t the elite all-around prospect that most thought he was a year ago Moore is still a heck of a strong safety who should excel in the box while not embarrassing himself in the deep half. Landing Moore where they did was a coup for Atlanta and he should compete for the starting job vacated by Lawyer Milloy as a rookie.
With two of their next three picks the Falcons opted to add some reinforcements at cornerback, starting with Christopher Owens of San Jose St. in the third round. Even though it was widely accepted that Owens was going to be selected earlier than most thought round three was still a stretch by at least 50-75 picks. In fact, there are many who believe that his college teammate Coye Francies was actually a better pro prospect and he didn’t come off the board until round six. An aggressive cover guy with nice instincts, Owens likely profiles as more of a nickel or dime type at the next level due to his lack of ideal height (5-93/4), bulk (181 lbs.) and timed speed (4.51). In round five the Falcons reached for another cornerback when they chose Furman’s William Middleton, who wasn’t considered to be a draftable prospect by most. A bit of a Workout Warrior, Middleton didn’t receive an invite to the Scouting Combine but opened some eyes at his Pro Day when he ran in the mid-4.4’s at 5-91/2 and 193 pounds. Ironically Middleton actually possesses better physical tools than Christopher Owens, who they chose two rounds earlier, and might actually have a better chance at eventually winning a starting job. The Falcons have some solid options at cornerback but no real standouts so both Owens and Middleton should have an opportunity to earn a lot of playing time as rookies. Sandwiched between those two cover guys was Richmond DE Lawrence Sidbury, who unlike some of their other picks was a great value in round four. A rangy pass rusher with extremely long arms who ran the fastest forty time for a defensive lineman at the Scouting Combine (4.64), Sidbury is still very raw and will be making a big leap in competition but he has a ton of upside. With former #8 overall pick Jamaal Anderson looking more and more like a colossal bust the Falcons need another defensive end to emerge opposite John Abraham and in time Sidbury has the potential to be that guy. With that said Sidbury will probably be brought along slowly and see most of his action as a pass rush specialist in 2009.
With the second of two fifth round picks Atlanta chose North Carolina OT Garrett Reynolds, who is the nephew of former NFL great Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds. While not a great athlete Reynolds is a big (6-75/8, 309), physical overachiever with nice intangibles. At the very least Reynolds will provide some quality depth at right tackle and it wouldn’t be a complete shock if he eventually pushed Tyson Clabo for the starting job. In round six the Falcons took a flyer on Miami (FL) LB Spencer Adkins, who was the only Hurricane selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. At 5-113/8 and 230 pounds Adkins is a little undersized but he has a chiseled physique to go along with great speed (4.46) and athleticism. However, Adkins never developed into the top player that his talent would have otherwise indicated and he actually only started 8 games in college, all as a junior. If nothing else Adkins will compete for a job as a backup and special teamer but if the light ever does come on the Falcons could have themselves a real find. The Falcons ended the 2009 NFL Draft the same way they started it, by selecting a defensive tackle. Georgia Tech’s Vance Walker is a classic case of a player who does everything well but nothing great and while he doesn’t profile as a starter in the NFL he should be able to make the roster and contribute as a backup.
A year ago the Falcons used the NFL Draft to lay the groundwork for the future and while this class may not feature similar Matt Ryan-esque star power it could actually produce just as many long-term starters for the franchise. Despite the success they enjoyed last season the Falcons are still a team in rebuilding mode so there is a good chance they will take a small step backwards in 2009 but thanks to back-to-back strong drafts Atlanta now has a solid foundation in place and the future is very bright.
