According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Falcons would be willing to trade up if A.J. Green falls to the sixth spot when the Cleveland Browns make their selection. There has been rumors swirling that the Browns were already seeking a trade partner in order to move back from the 6th pick, but this situation brings some irony with it as it is also widely believed that if A.J. Green fell to the Browns or if Julio Jones was available that Browns GM Mike Holmgren would be compelled to take them.
The Falcons most glaring need this off-season is a top flight compliment to Roddy White in their receiving core. The addition of A.J. Green, considered by a number of scouts to be one of the best wide receiver prospects to come out in quite some time, would add another weapon to an already potent offense. A wide receiving core including Roddy White, A.J. Green, and Tony Gonzalez, paired with a punishing rushing attack headed by Michael Turner and commanded by one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the game with Matt Ryan, the sky would be the limit as the Falcons make a push to emerge as the elite team in the NFC. Falcons fans will closely monitor the situation over the next month in hope that a homegrown talent such as Green could just be the missing link to a possible run at the Super Bowl this upcoming season.
Highly unlikely. GM Thomas Dimitroff is from the Patriot "more picks" school. I can't see him giving up the picks it would take to move up from #27 to grab Green. While the need for a playmaker across from Roddy White is obvious, they still have myriad needs to address (athletic, young TE/O-line depth in case of F.A. defection/pass-rushing DE/nickel CB/LB depth/S depth)and will need all of their picks. Leonard Hankerson or Torrey Smith could be available at #27 if they want a WR in the 1st round, or Jerrel Jernigan, Titus Young and Randall Cobb could be had in the 2nd.
ReplyDeletetheir offense would be unstoppable..i think its a possibility but they really need to improve their defense and trading away alot of picks isnt the smartest thing to do
ReplyDeletemprofetta: I usually tend to agree with you but to be honest, there is a big dropoff between A.J. Green and say a guy like Torrey Smith or Jonathan Baldwin...those players are projects while A.J. can step in right away and make an impact. I honestly believe the Falcons are only 1 or 2 players away from going to a super bowl. If they can be aggressive and go get Green by giving up their late 1st round pick and maybe a 4th round this year and a 1st round next they will be in good shape. Their defense is young but they really started to gel last year, and lest we forget, they finished with the best record in the NFC despite playing in a pretty tough division. It's a gutsy move, but one that can definitely pay off
ReplyDeleteFair enough. I have to disagree that ATL is a player or two away from the SB. The road goes through the Packers, who are relatively young & built for the long haul (through the draft). They'll be returning Grant, Finley, Jones, Burnett, Neal, etc., to the fold in '11. THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. As long as ATL has nothing beyond a rapidly-aging John Abraham to pressure Aaron Rodgers and NO viable #3 & #4 CBs to combat GB's deep group of WRs, they WILL NOT overtake the Packers.
ReplyDeleteGood WRs aren't that hard to find. ATL could sign Santana Moss, draft a couple of guys like TE Lance Kendricks and Randall Cobb, and that would be more than enough firepower for Matt Ryan (IMO). A pass-rusher like Ryan Kerrigan or Justin Houston should be their 1st round target, NOT a top 10 WR, who historically have a HUGE bust percentage. (For every Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson, there's Peter Warrick, Ted Ginn, Nate Burleson, Michael Crabtree, Braylon Edwards, Troy Williamson, Charlie Rogers, Mike Williams, Michael Westbrook, Reggie Williams, etc.)
While talent is obviously the most important aspect of winning the SB, there's something to be said for CHEMISTRY. Roddy White is the undisputed "alpha dog" in ATL, and really needs a #2 WR to be "Robin" to his "Batman", not another "Batman". The implosion we saw in Cincy last season is a good example of how that usually works out.
With cornerstone guys like Michael Turner, Gonzalez, Abraham, etc., nearing the end of the line, the 2012 1st rounder you propose the Falcons would package is just too valuable to give up, IMO. Talented & youthful TB is looking like they'll be a long-term force in the NFC South in short time and the Falcons will need a steady stream of talented young prospects to keep pace.