Atlanta Falcons - NFC South, 2008 Draft Selections & Prospects
Atlanta Falcons
The Draft Was
... Functional. The franchise needed to start from scratch,
and this class did just that taking solid leaders and character
players like QB Matt Ryan, OT Sam Baker and LB Curtis Lofton.
The defensive back seven got a major influx of talent, but this
draft is all about Ryan. He had better be worth it. Best Value Pick: Thomas DeCoud, FS California. 3rd Round.
With good versatilty, he can play either safety spot and can be
a playmaker on special teams. In a safety-weak draft, it
wouldn't have been a shock if he went a round earlier. Biggest Reach: Chevis Jackson, CB LSU. 3rd round. While
he's a good prospect and should grow into a nice starter, the
Falcons are in big trouble if they think they've replaced
DeAngelo Hall with the slow Jackson. They Should've ... Taken Glenn Dorsey at the three and
taken a quarterback in the second round. Holding on to the third
pick in round two would've been the key, but then the Falcons
would've had their defensive anchor and a Chad Henne or a Brian
Brohm.
#
Pick
3
3
1st Round
Matt Ryan, QB Boston College
Ryan is tough as nails, a great leader, and a winner who'll make
a Pro Bowl or three, but he's not a once-in-a-generation type.
While he's considered head-and-shoulders ahead of everyone else
in the race to be the top NFL quarterback prospect in this
year's draft, he's not a supreme talent like a Peyton Manning or
Troy Aikman, and he doesn't do anything special like a JaMarcus
Russell or Michael Vick. However, he's not David Carr or Alex
Smith. Tall, mobile, smart, and with the poise and the skills to
be a productive pro for the next ten years, there's no real
downside; he looks the part. However, he's not the type of
quarterback who'll carry an NFL team to greatness on his own,
but he could eventually take a very good team over the top.
Interceptions were a problem when he tried to do too much on his
own, and he didn't handle the pressure well when defenses were
able to hit him on a regular basis. Then again, neither did Tom
Brady in the Super Bowl. CFN Projection: First Round
CFN Position Rank: 1
21
21
1st Round (from
Washington)
Sam Baker, OT USC
The son of the Arena Football League's commissioner is an
athletic big man who was tremendously productive for four years
playing at the highest level each and every week. While he's
good in pass protection and is great on the move, he's not
necessarily a rock against speed rushers and isn't quite as
dominant a run blocker as many would like. He's a technician;
not a mauler. CFN Projection: Second Round CFN
Position Rank: 5
6
37
2nd Round
Curtis Lofton, ILB Oklahoma
A tremendous inside presence, the 243-pound playmaker is a
consistent big-hitter who's great when the spotlight goes on.
The best pure inside linebacker in the draft, Lofton plays
better than his athleticism because he always knows what he's
doing and has great anticipation. While he might not be able to
run down too many speedsters, he takes good enough angles to
overcome his lack of raw speed. He's a flat-out baller. CFN Projection: Second Round CFN
Position Rank: 4
5
68
3rd Round
Chevis Jackson, CB LSU
Jackson got lumped in with past LSU defensive backs as many
assumed he'd be just as good as a LaRon Landry (who played a
different position) among others, and while he was fine as a
three-year starters at a high level, and had a whale of a senior
season, he's not quite an elite player. Too stringy at 6-0 and
192 pounds, and way too slow with 4.62 speed, he'll be limited
unless he bulks up and becomes a safety. Even so, he's a
football player and will be better than his measurables. CFN Projection: Fourth Round CFN
Position Rank: 17
21
84
3rd Round (from
trade) Harry
Douglas, WR Louisville
It's all about his return ability. While he's very tough and he
proved he could be a No. 1 receiver at the collegiate level,
he's not big enough or fast enough to be more than a No. 3 on
anyone's offense. However, he could blossom as a kick and punt
returner. Even though he's tough as nails, he'll get beaten up
by NFL defensive backs CFN Projection: Sixth Round CFN
Position Rank: 26
35
98
3rd Round
Thomas DeCoud, FS California
More like a corner playing safety, the 6-1, 207-pound DeCoud is
a good athlete who hits even bigger than his size. He doesn't
make too many mistakes and is ultra-aggressive. While he's still
learning the position after moving over from corner, he didn't
do quite enough against the pass and he only had roughly a year
to figure out what he's doing. Even so, his hitting ability
along should make him a nice starter in time. CFN Projection: Late Second Round to Early
Third CFN Position Rank: 10
3
138
5th Round
Robert James, OLB Arizona State
With safety athleticism and excellent pop, he's an intimidating
player who can blow up a ball-carrier and he isn't afraid to get
his uniform dirty. The big question is his durability. Banged up
throughout his career, he finally broke through as a senior. He
has the strength, but at only 5-11 and 225 pounds, he's purely a
weakside prospect. CFN Projection: Fifth Round
CFN
Position Rank: 24
19
154
5th Round
(from trade) Kory Biermann, LB Montana Not fast enough to play on the outside and not big enough to
play inside, he's a classic tweener linebacker who'll have a
hard time finding a niche in a defense. Very strong, cranking
out a lineman-like 29 reps at the Combine, he can play bigger
than his 246-pound size. He won't do anything in pass coverage. CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN
Position Rank: NR
6
172
6th Round
Thomas
Brown, RB Georgia
Sort of poor man's Mike Hart, Brown is the same size and has the
same style as the former Michigan star but wasn't nearly as
productive. Not a speed back, he's a quick, powerful runner
who'll take a pounding and ask for more carries. He's not going
to do anything flashy and he's not going to do anything on the
outside, but he could be a nice fill-in for a series or two or a
game or two and keep the running game moving. CFN Projection: Fourth Round CFN
Position Rank: 17
5
212
7th Round Wilrey
Fontenot, CB Arizona The problem is his size, or lack of it. He has good speed,
but he's only about 5-8 and didn't do well with good-sized
receivers in college and won't be able to handle any NFL
receiver bigger than six-feet. He plays bigger than his size
against the run, but he'll only be used in nickel and dime
packages. CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN
Position Rank: NR
25
232
7th Round
Keith Zinger, TE LSU He's just a blocker; nothing more. At 6-3 and 270 pounds he
could grow into a bigger third tackle in jumbo formations, but
he also has decent enough hands to be used more on short passes
than he was at LSU. He doesn't have the speed, running a
painfully slow 5.11, to be a regular receiver. CFN Projection: Free Agent CFN
Position Rank: NR
