You’re going to hear a lot of the same chatter over the next five days that NFL teams are willing to trade down in the first round of the NFL Draft. The Atlanta Falcons are no different. General Manager Thomas Dimitroff told ESPN.com his team is looking to best help its future. Acquiring multiple draft picks could solidify the Atlanta Falcons down the road.
Per Vaughn McClure, every year around draft time, Thomas Dimitroff is asked about the possibility of making a draft trade. And every year, the guy who once surrendered five picks to move up and select Julio Jones makes clear he’s open to anything.
The Atlanta Falcons own the 26th overall pick in the first round.
“There are a number of positions that we’re looking at more than other years,” Thomas Dimitroff said. “I feel like in other years, we’ve been really homed in on potentially one or two, and we have a number of positions that we think can really benefit us at 26. … In our minds, it gives us an opportunity to consider — of course, we’ll always consider moving up — but also the idea of moving back as well because we feel there are a number of good players at 26 and beyond.”
Most mock draft have the Falcons shoring up their defensive line with interior lineman, but another pass rusher or even a wide receiver may be on Dimitroff’s wish list. Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft has the Falcons taking Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan. Da’Ron Payne of Alabama, another defensive tackle could be an option as could edge rusher Marcus Davenport of the University of Texas-San Antonio.
Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea should also be a consideration.
Last year, the Falcons traded up from 31st to 26th in the first round to select defensive end Takkarist McKinley, surrendering a third-round pick and seventh-round pick to Seattle along with the swap in first-round positions.