Strong roster gives Falcons flexibility
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons are accustomed to focusing on one or two positions in the NFL draft. Not this time. After a Super Bowl appearance two years ago and another trip to the playoffs last season, the Falcons are fairly content with their roster. Oh, sure, they’ve got needs like every other team — but nothing that looks too pressing.
“This draft is different than most drafts I’ve been involved with,” said Thomas Dimitroff, who is entering his second decade as the Falcons’ general manager. “This is an important draft and an interesting draft. There are a number of positions we’re looking at, more than other years. Other years, we really homed in on one or two positions.”
The Falcons have the No. 26 pick for tonight’s opening round at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
With a lot of attention on quarterbacks such as Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and the past two Heisman Trophy winners, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson, Dimitroff expects some top talent to slip all the way down to Atlanta’s spot.
“There’s some really legitimate contenders to help our team right away at No. 26 if we stay put,” he said. “We’ll always be aggressive if we see some interesting impact players who can take us to another level. But hopefully they’ll get to 26.”
Dimitroff is often looking to make a deal on draft day. Last year, he sent three picks to the Seattle Seahawks in order to move up to No. 26 and take UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley, believing he would be a perfect fit in Quinn’s attacking defense.
Dimitroff also traded up to get cornerback Desmond Trufant in 2013, and most notably pulled off a huge deal with Cleveland in 2011 to land Julio Jones, who quickly developed into one of the league’s top receivers and a cornerstone of the franchise. The Browns are still regretting that trade.
Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn have formed an excellent working relationship after a somewhat forced partnership. Dimitroff was hired by the Falcons in 2008 and initially had total control over the draft, but he surrendered some of that power to Quinn when the coach was hired by owner Arthur Blank in 2015.
“It’s nice for me from an experience standpoint,” Quinn said, “to draft alongside one of the most tenured GMs in the league.”
The second and third rounds are Friday, with the fourth through seventh rounds Saturday. Atlanta has selections in the second (58th overall), third (90th), fourth (126th), sixth (200th) and seventh (244th) rounds. In addition, the Falcons were awarded the final pick (No. 256) as compensation for losing five players in free agency, which means they have a chance to grab the player known as “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Positions that could be of most interest include both lines, fullback and receiver.
“... There are a number of positions we’re looking at, more than other years. Other years, we really homed in on one or two positions.”
– ATLANTA FALCONS GENERAL MANAGER THOMAS DIMITROFF