Thomas Dimitroff has done an excellent job turning the Falcons around since the Michael Vick fiasco years ago. He found his star quarterback in Matt Ryan and hasn’t been afraid to make bold moves, like trading up for Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones. But for some of the great hits Dimitroff has made, there have been plenty of misses including Peria Jerry and Jamaal Anderson.
After a fantastic 2012 season that saw the team fall just yards short of a trip to the Super Bowl, expectations were high for the Falcons in 2013. Dimitroff spent money, time and picks to build a Super Bowl roster, but due to injuries and poor play this team is now looking at a top-three pick. If Dimitroff wants to turn this team around for the 2014 season, the upcoming offseason will be a major test. He will have to make some bold moves in the offseason, especially during the draft to add more talent on both sides of the ball. Finding a premier pass rush, starting right tackle, tight end and guard will all be key to making this a playoff-contender again.
First Round: Jadeveon Clowney Defensive End, South Carolina
The Falcons have been miserable this season but their luck could turn when the 2014 NFL Draft rolls around. They are one of the few teams potentially picking in the top-five who won’t need a quarterback. The team needs help putting pressure on the quarterback and protecting their own quarterback, and will have great choices when they are put on the clock.
While Jake Matthews is an excellent prospect as an offensive tackle, he doesn’t touch the same level of Clowney’s talent and potential. Clowney is the best defensive prospect since Ndamukong Suh and a strong case could be made that he is even better. While Clowney hasn’t lived up to the unreachable expectations many had for them this season, he is still a rare prospect who you can’t pass on if you already have a quarterback. He would step on to the field immediately and give the Falcons’ the elite pass-rusher they desperately need on defense. As NFL teams started to game plan against him as all of the college teams have done for years now, it would open up more opportunities for his teammates to take advantage and create pressure of their own. Clowney is the type of player who will walk onto the Falcons field the first day of practice and instantly become the best defensive player on the team.
Second Round: James Hurst Offensive Tackle, North Carolina
One of the biggest downfalls for the Falcons this season have been injuries and while losing their star wide receiver hurt, things have just been brutal along the offensive line.
Sam Baker was having a mediocre season as the starter but mediocre has been a lot better than some of the stuff they’ve gotten from their backups.
The biggest problem though may be on the right side where Jeremy Trueblood has just been awful.
If the Falcons want to actually protect the millions of dollars they invested in Ryan, finding an offensive tackle needs to be a monumental priority.
Depending on how the draft plays out, the Falcons could look at taking a player like Matthews with their first-round pick, but they wouldn’t pass up on the chance to have Clowney. So they wait until the second round to upgrade at offensive tackle and Hurst is that guy. The senior tackle isn’t as athletic as some of his peers but he offers plenty of size and continues to improve with his technique and anchor. He needs to spend time in the weight room and working on his footwork but even where he is now, he still projects very well as a starting right tackle in the NFL. He would immediately replace Trueblood on the right side and Ryan could feel just a little bit safer in the pocket.
Third Round: C.J. Fiedorowicz Tight End, Iowa
It looked like tight end was going to be a need for the Falcons this past season, but the team was able to convince Tony Gonzalez to come back for another run at the Super Bowl. While Gonzalez has stayed healthy and had a productive season especially at the age of 37, he will not come back for another season after the massive disappointment that was the 2013 season. So with Gonzalez walking off into the sunset, the Falcons need to find another top target for Ryan to work with.
The 2014 tight end class hasn’t taken plenty of hits when you compare the draft board from before the season to now. Colt Lyerla may not be drafted after a drug arrest and leaving the team, while Austin Seferian-Jenkins has some off-the-field questions of his own. While Eric Ebron and Jace Amaro have rocketed up to the top, neither player is worth taking in the top-five and will likely be gone when the Falcons pick in the second round. One name that doesn’t get talked about a lot is Fiedorowicz. It’s hard to attract attention when you only have 23 receptions for 230 yards on the season but Fiedorowicz plays for a team that doesn’t throw the football often and neglects the tight end position. He has a massive frame at 6’7” matched with underrated athleticism. He isn’t the type of player who will stretch the field and outrun safeties but he is as physical as they come and a great target in the red zone. He could start immediately for the Falcons’ and dominate while opposing teams focus on stopping Jones and White.
Fourth Round: Marion Grice Running Back, Arizona State
When the Falcons signed Steven Jackson, everyone saw it as the final piece to the Falcons puzzle to push them towards a Super Bowl run. Instead injuries have decimated the Falcons roster, the team is closing in on a top-three selection and Jackson hasn’t come close to even the smallest expectations.
Even if Jackson is brought back for another season, the Falcons need to add another threat in the backfield.
Jackson is no longer the reliable receiving threat he used to be and the speed that helped him break long touchdown runs is now gone.
In comes Grice who would complement Jackson perfectly and add another threat in the receiving game. He won’t give you big runs up the middle and just isn’t built for carrying the weight of the running attack but he can bounce big runs to the outside and if you give him the ball in space, he will make plays.
He would be especially dangerous inside the red zone where his speed and versatility as a running back or receiver makes him an unstoppable weapon. When Jones and White aren’t open or Ryan needs to get some pressure off of him, he can just dump it off to Grice who will make the big play. Adding Grice to this offense would be just what they need to turn things around and become a playoff contender again.
Fifth Round: Cody Hoffman Wide Receiver, BYU
Yes, the team has Jones, Roddy White and Harry Douglas, but the Falcons need more if they want to build one of the best wide receiving corps in the league. But as we saw this season when Jones and White went down the Falcons passing game nearly went extinct even with the emergence of Douglas.
The need for wide receiver is magnified even more when you consider that Jones and White will be free agents after the 2014 season. While the team is already discussing a team-friendly contract with the 32-year-old White, they will have to be ready to fork out a truckload of money if they want to keep Jones. Adding a receiver like Hoffman is perfect for what the Falcons need in 2014 and for the future. While he sits back and learns from veterans like White and Jones, Hoffman can patiently wait in the wings only coming in during certain situations, before he is finally ready to take over after he develops further. When White retires in a few years, Hoffman will be ready to fill the void and help the Falcons’ offense move on without a hitch.
Sixth Round: Zach Fulton Offensive Guard, Tennessee
The offensive line will be a major priority for the Falcons’ front office during the offseason with holes to fill at offensive tackle and also the interior of their offensive line. While Atlanta is pretty settled at left guard with 29-year-old Justin Blalock, Garrett Reynolds has just been torched on the right side and seems to be replaced almost every game. Fulton has started for the Tennessee Volunteers’ for three straight seasons and has improved his chances of being drafted. Fulton has been solid again this season, showing the ability to get to the second level and block down field. He has helped anchor a strong Volunteers’ offensive line and would step in and challenge for the right guard spot in training camp with the Falcons.
Seventh Round: Bruce Gaston Defensive Tackle, Purdue
Adding depth on the defensive line especially at defensive tackle will be a key for the Falcons if they want to turn things around in 2014. This team just doesn’t have a lot of talent up front and adding any talent to the depth chart will be key. Gaston hasn’t received a lot of attention this season playing for a Boilermakers team that is 1-10 and is 110th in points allowed with 36.4 points per game. Gaston’s name is starting to attract more attention as scouts make their trips around the country but he hasn’t attracted nearly as much attention playing for a terrible team. But Gaston knows how to create interior pressure and would make a nice situational player for the Falcons next season.