Falcons: 2013 Draft Targets

[Beef]

Kwame Geathers is total crap. This is coming from a diehard Bulldawg fan too. John Jenkins is crap too. Both are fat, weak, and get pushed around easily.

I still really believe that Konz is the future center. McClure is so below average anymore and he's the biggest reason for our OL woes. I've made it a point the past two years to watch what happens every snap to the middle of our OL and nearly every pocket collapse and closed running lane stems from McClure. He is absolutely amazing at keeping defenders in front of him. But damn does he get pushed around while doing it. Pushed back into Ryan on passing downs. Pushed into the RG on running plays to the right. Pushed into the LG on running plays to the left.

I believe Konz will stop all that from happening and our OL will improve overnight. I just don't see them drafting another OL high this year. I see us picking up OL depth in FA or getting one in late rounds, but not close to our top 5 picks. We need too much on defense and we need a top tier RB so much more.

I see the OL looking like this:
LT: Baker | Holmes
LG: Blalock | Hawley
C: Konz | Hawley
RG: Johnson | Manley (or new FA signee)
RT: Clabo | Holmes

Svitek and Reynolds were on IR, so who knows what will happen with them if they don't come back from injury well. We have OG Jaques McClendon on the PS, 6'3 325 and OG Harland Gunn, 6'2 310 was actually on the 53, along with Hawley, Johnson, and Manley who each saw playing time this year too.

That's A LOT of OL's on the 53 payroll that can't be place on the PS anymore. 2 centers drafted in the past 2 years and neither of them is going to play center?? I just really doubt that. And the OL would be sooo much better with Konz dominating the middle. Everything on the OL either works or goes to shit as a result of what happens in the middle. It's the most important position next to the blind side OT and THE most important position on the OL in running situations.

I'd rather get a bona fide RG in FA and leave Johnson on depth if we had to do anything. We need to draft a DE or RB with our first pick.

I like DE Sam Montgomery at pick #30 and there a chance he will make it that far. Not sure why you have him marked out. A lot of mock draft sites have him still there.

And I still don't see us drafting 3-4 players. I believe we continue with the 4-3 base package and continue with prototypical 4-3 DE/DT type players.

[evo]

I rather us trading our 1st round to get a 2nd, 3rd and next year draft

We can go for DE,DT in 2nd round and RB,TE in 3rd.

Then sign a RG in FA....that would be a perfect scenario for any falcons fan.

[papachaz]

(01-22-2013 04:00 PM)evo Wrote:  I rather us trading our 1st round to get a 2nd and 3rd so we can get a DE,DT in 2nd round and RB,TE in 3rd.

Then sign a RG in FA....that would be a perfect scenario for any falcons fan.

to me that would depend on who you trade with, where their 2nd/3rd rounders fall

also, should we be expecting a 3rd round compensatory pick for lofton?

[RFlagg]

(01-22-2013 04:04 PM)papachaz Wrote:  to me that would depend on who you trade with, where their 2nd/3rd rounders fall

also, should we be expecting a 3rd round compensatory pick for lofton?

I think we should be getting a third rounder for him, yeah. He led the Saints in Tackles and finished in the Top 20 over all. I'd think a 3rd rounder, 4th at worse.

Sadly, we probably won't get anything for Weems.

[evo]

(01-22-2013 04:04 PM)papachaz Wrote:  to me that would depend on who you trade with, where their 2nd/3rd rounders fall

also, should we be expecting a 3rd round compensatory pick for lofton?

I think we should, but that 3rd round would be like a 4th rounder...

I would say we trade with a team with early to mid round, teams like bears, bengals, giants or vikings

[Aftermath]

All I know is that we don't need any more projects or developmental players on the team, we don't develop players for shit. If we got to trade away our 2nd or 3rd in order to jump up a few spots and land a better player I'm all for it. We need someone that can start and make an impact on Day 1, not someone that will get buried on the depth chart never to be seen again.

[Beef]

(01-22-2013 04:20 PM)Aftermath Wrote:  All I know is that we don't need any more projects or developmental players on the team, we don't develop players for shit. If we got to trade away our 2nd or 3rd in order to jump up a few spots and land a better player I'm all for it. We need someone that can start and make an impact on Day 1, not someone that will get buried on the depth chart never to be seen again.

^^ This.

I wouldn't mind moving up to get a guy like Dion Jordan.

[evo]

Agreed, Nolan was known for drafting a few good players while he was with 49ers... give him a full off-season and see what he can come up with.

Either way, im excited to see what we're going to do this year in draft and FAs.

[papachaz]

(01-22-2013 04:52 PM)evo Wrote:  Agreed, Nolan was known for drafting a few good players while he was with 49ers... give him a full off-season and see what he can come up with.

Either way, im excited to see what we're going to do this year in draft and FAs.

agree with this. now that he's had a season to see what he had, he should know what he needs to do what he wants.

[ggp]

I believe that we have a couple of defenders on this roster that will pay dividends for us going forward. Nolan should move us to the 3-4(base). If he does so, guys like Massaquoi and Matthews will become much more productive. I doubt Sidbury has any future with us.

I agree with Beef that we should find our RG in free agency. An experienced Master Blaster next to Konz would be the final piece to a dominating offense.

In order to add any free agents, the Falcons will need to shed contracts. Who do you guys view as the best drops to gain cap space? Here are my suggestions:

Turner: Pretty obvious. No need for explanation.

McClure: His contract is done, so this is not a drop, but will reresent a cap decision.

Gonzalez: I propose he sit out for most of the year. I would leave cap space to sign him during the season.

Abraham: Yeah, I know, he is our only pass rusher. The trouble is that he is 34, often-injured and a 4-3 DE. He can not be expected to play OLB much. Why I like and respect the man, I think that it is better to let players go a year too early than a year too late. (I said the same thing about Turner last off-season).