Atlanta Falcons 2009 NFL Draft Predictions

Written March 25, 2009 by Black Widow

Alabama Football GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith did a brilliant job of rebuilding the Falcons in just one offseason. Now they face a far less daunting task than they had at this time last year, when both inherited a franchise that was broken. Dimitroff has his offense set up for long-term success, signing RB Michael Turner and drafting QB Matt Ryan. This club won’t sit on its thumbs, and Dimitroff showed his aggressiveness last year by trading back into the first round and swapping two second-rounders to get the 21st pick. That worked out nicely with OLT Sam Baker. Dimitroff will turn his focus this offseason to the defense, which ranked 24th in the league in 2008. Let’s take a look at the top five draft needs for Atlanta this year and my predictions on who they will take. If you are going to do any NFL betting this season then check out this offer from BetUS: deposit $500 and get a $500 signup bonus!

1.) Strong Safety – Veteran Lawyer Milloy, 35, is an unrestricted free agent and it doesn’t appear the Falcons have any interest in bringing him back. This leaves a big void in the secondary. Milloy is a liability in pass coverage as he’s at the end of his career and he’s clearly lost a step or two. Atlanta will be looking to get younger here via the Draft with upgrades in size and speed. Their pass-coverage unit ranked 21st in the league last season. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: FS Rashad Johnson (Alabama), SS Patrick Chung (Oregon State).

2.) Defensive Tackle – The Falcons will be looking for a big run stuffer who can play nose tackle in their 4-3 scheme. Grady Jackson turned 36 in January and will not likely be back with the team. Atlanta will have the opportunity to get younger and more athletic at this position. Jackson was all of 345 pounds and Atlanta would like to have a younger version of him to occupy blockers, allowing talented young middle linebacker Curtis Lofton to roam free and make plays. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: DT Peria Jerry (Ole Miss).

3.) Defensive End – Dimitroff and Smith will look for a pass-rushing DE to complement John Abram because Jamaal Anderson, who was the team’s first-round pick in 2007, is not getting the job done. In 31 games Anderson has managed just 2 sacks, leaving Abram as the team’s only legitimate pass-rusher. Whether it’s a guy that can play every down or just a 3rd down specialist, the team needs a DE that can get after the QB. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: DE Paul Kruger (Utah).

4.) Strong-Side Linebacker – In 2007, it appeared SLB Michael Boley had a bright future with the team and was considered their best defensive player. He is likely to move on after falling out of favor of the new coaching staff and becoming an unrestricted free agent this winter. Two-year veteran Stephen Nicholas could replace him, but he would be a much better fit on the week side. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: OLB DeAndre Levy (Wisconsin). This is a position the guys at Bloggin Dirty also think their team eneds to upgrade.

5.) Tight End – The offense is basically set, but one of the few needs in Atlanta is at tight end. This is because they don’t really have a guy that can contribute more than just a run blocker. Matt Ryan didn’t have a true pass-catching tight end last season, though it didn’t hurt him too much as he still had a stellar season. Atlanta could be content since it worked out last year, but bringing in a receiving tight end would clearly give the passing game an extra jolt. Good Fits in ‘09 Draft Class: TE Chase Coffman (Missouri), TE John Phillips (Virginia). The Falcoholic also suggest Atlanta will draft a tight end, but they ask at what point in the draft?

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