Plenty for team to do at combine

Scouting draft propects only part of it.

The NFL scouting combine is much more than just gathering 40-yard dash times.

The Falcons’ personnel, coaching and medical staffs will head to Indianapolis to evaluate more than 330 prospects for the NFL draft, which is set for April 26-28 in Arlington, Texas. The combine starts today and runs through

Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Falcons, who don’t believe they have any glaring weaknesses, want to fortify their offensive and defensive lines. They also need to improve their short-yardage package on offense.

Here are four other things the Falcons might accomplish during the combine:

1. Get a better handle on the Matt Ryan contract situation. The Falcons will likely meet with Ryan’s agent, Tom Condon, to work on his contract extension. The team also can meet with Jimmy Sexton, who represents defensive tackle Dontari Poe, and Blake Baratz, who represents defensive end Adrian Clayborn.

The Falcons have already started discussing a new contract with kicker Matt Bryant, with the hopes of keeping him from becoming an unrestricted free agent on March 14.

2. Get a better understanding of the draft class. The Falcons were awarded a seventh-round compensatory pick by the league office Friday. Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors.

The Falcons now have seven picks, including the 26th overall pick in the draft. They traded their fifth-round pick (154) to Denver for offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo on Sept. 1, 2017. The Falcons’ projected picks are: second round (58 overall), third round (90), fourth round (122), sixth round (186), and seventh round (218 and 256).

3. Introduce new assistant coaches. The Falcons hired four new assistants this offseason and the team has not been questioned about their hirings. The combine appearance will be the first time they’ve addressed the hirings to the media.

Greg Knapp was added to coach quarterbacks after Bush Hamdan went to Washington to become offensive coordinator. Bernie Parmalee will take over at running backs for Keith Carter, who left to join the Titans’ staff.

Mayur Chaudhari was added as an assistant special teams coach and Chad Walker as an offensive assistant. Chaudhari replaces Eric Sutulovich, who was not retained after nine seasons with the team. Walker replaces Charlie Weis Jr., who left to become offensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic.

4. Trade talks can start. The Falcons don’t generally make trades at the combine, but the groundwork for deals can be laid. The Falcons’ last two trades have been for offensive linemen and occurred during training camp. The Falcons traded with the Titans for Andy Levitre and for Sambrailo last season.

The Falcons could be in the running for former Broncos starting quarterback Trevor Siemian. Knapp worked out Siemian before the 2015 NFL draft and coached him for two years in Denver.

Matt Schaub, who’ll turn 37 in June, is signed for next season as the backup. Siemian, 26, could be the long-term answer at backup quarterback.