NFL Draft/Free Agent/Trade Ideas

[Bravo95]

If they're in the market for a RB in the early rounds, Marcus Lattimore's knee injury earlier today may have change the landscape. Some of the top backs (many of whom fit the change-of-pace style the Falcons will need) could move up a lot of draft boards and might not be around if TD wants to select his guy in, say, the 2nd or 3rd round.

Also, Oklahoma has double-coverage on Tyler Eifert almost everywhere he goes on the field tonight.

[Bravo95]

SI's Peter King mentioned Dwayne Bowe & Steven Jackson as trade candidates. But KC, STL would want "at least" a 3rd-rounder to give them up.

Evan Silva / Rotoworld

Jackson's stats entering Sunday: 101 carries for 380 yards (3.8 YPC) and 1 TD, 10 receptions for 76 yards (7.6 YPR).

[dee279]

Evan Silva / Rotoworld

Jackson's stats entering Sunday: 101 carries for 380 yards (3.8 YPC) and 1 TD, 10 receptions for 76 yards (7.6 YPR).

I would try a 4th for Jackson. But if that wouldnt work, id give up a 3rd. He is a complete monster. Very underrated HB who can do it all.

[dee279]

Jared Cook requested a trade. Nice TE that TG could groom up and he is good already. Could you imagine the 2 TE sets with those 2?

[Bravo95]

I might have to cancel that idea of getting Steven Jackson. He earns $7M this season, which would be too much even prorated because the Falcons only had about $3M in cap space entering this season.

Jared Cook is a interesting name, good young player, makes about $600,000 this season. Only thing is TD might be content with their personnel in the passing game, which doesn't really have a glaring weakness. I could see him maybe pursuing Cook in the offseason if Gonzo hangs it up though.

[Ramon Nivar]

Yeah, S-Jax would give us too much money tied into the backfield. Unless we cut Turner (Or ship him with the pick) I doubt we make any move for a HB. As far as Cook, I'd love it (Good call) but he just doesn't seem like a Falcon. I'd love him but I still can't picture it.

[Bravo95]

WalterFootball.com's updated mock:

27. Atlanta Falcons: Barrett Jones, G/C/OT, Alabama

57. Atlanta Falcons: John Simon, DE, Ohio State

89. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida

Gillislee had a great start to the season but he's been kinda quiet against the last two stout defenses (41 rushes for 114 yards and 0 TD vs S.Carolina and Georgia). He is basically his team's only weapon, could be a mid-round steal.

[Bravo95]

ESPN's John Clayton said on NFL Live that LeGarrette Blount & Chris Ivory could "probably" be had for 7th-rd picks before trade deadline.

Evan Silva / Rotoworld

[TrueFan]

There is some speculation about the Falcons maybe being interested in DeAngelo Williams if the price is right. He hasn't done much for Carolina this year, but I remember when he was their featured back and made some crazy plays.

[Ramon Nivar]

DeAngelo would make me want to marry Dimitroff. Unfortunately the division rival thing may keep us out of that.

[ugafan]

And his salary isn't pretty. We'd have so much tied up in the backfield if we had him on the payroll.

[Bravo95]

FootballOutsiders recently posted a profile on Tyler Eifert (with screen shots!) to highlight his strengths and weaknesses. It's a somewhat long read, good for football junkies, but here is an excerpt from the conclusion:

http://footballoutsiders.com/futures...e-tyler-eifert

There’s a lot to like about a tight end capable of executing assignments from a variety of spots on the field, and [Tyler] Eifert demonstrates enough of that skill at the college level to project him as an effective blocker in the pros with additional work. He can meet an opponent of defensive-end proportions with a punch, attain hand placement inside the defender’s pads, and turn the man away from the ball carrier while maintaining a solid anchor with his lower body. When he faces a linebacker within his weight range, he has the strength to drive forward and pancake a defender. He also demonstrates a high motor to continue to work for good position and delivers multiple punches to get his hands into position to control his opponent.

One of the things he’ll need to get better at is his release at the snap. When Eifert is first off the line, his pads are generally low and he usually wins his assignment. However, he can fire off a step slow and too high as a run blocker. While he’s quick enough to sometimes get away with this poor timing in the college game, it won’t work in the NFL. Eifert also needs to develop more consistency with his hand placement so he can win battles at the line of scrimmage early in the snap. When it comes to anchoring defenders, it will benefit him to add 10-to-15 pounds of weight to his core, which will not only improve his functional strength but increase his initial explosion. Until he does so, he’s most effective against larger opponents as a part of a double team.

If Eifert truly measures at 6-foot-6 and gains the 10-to-15 pounds to reach 255-to-260 pounds. he’ll be a good option in a power run game, like [Vikings' TE Kyle] Rudolph is today. If he cannot add this muscle and plays at a weight below 250 pounds, he’ll offer more to an offense that uses a tight end like an H-Back that they move around as a wing player, fullback, slot receiver, and second inline tight end. I think Eifert’s talents make him a good match for teams like the Browns, Seahawks, Rams, Falcons, and Bears. I’m not convinced he’s a first-round talent, but I’d be surprised if he falls below the third round, a place where a lot of players with first-round grades are still available.

[Bravo95]

FO profile on Jordan Reed, TE, Florida. Potential mid-round selection, successor for Gonzo:

http://footballoutsiders.com/futures...te-jordan-reed

[Aaron] Hernandez is a matchup problem for linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks. Like the [Jermichael] Finley-[Jimmy] Graham-[Jared] Cook tier, the Patriots tight end can be passable as a blocker with some scheming creativity, but unlike any tight end in the league, his versatility as a ball carrier is similar to Percy Harvin. Note that I said versatility, not talent.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Hernandez was a fourth-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. One reason he was a second-day selection was multiple failed drug tests in college, but I believe that issue didn’t cost him more than a round. I think it was more likely that NFL teams were also wondering how exactly they would use Hernandez’s unique set of skills. It may be one thing for an NFL team to look at a space player like Harvin or Dexter McCluster and wonder whether he’s a running back or wide receiver while knowing it can use the player as a return specialist while it figures him out. However, it is a different matter when that unique player might not have one true position in any of the three phases of the game.

I believe that University of Florida tight end Jordan Reed has the potential to pose a similar quandary for teams in the 2013 NFL Draft. I had a strong pre-draft report on Hernandez and I see aspects of Reed’s game that reminds me of Hernandez. He’s a former high school quarterback who earned 77 carries for 238 yards and five touchdowns during his freshman year with the Gators. However, I’m not ready to stand behind the idea that the 6-foot-3, 245-pound redshirt junior is Hernandez 2.0. I have at least a few more months of games to study before I arrive at a firm conclusion.

...

The Florida tight end has eye-opening potential as a pass-catching weapon in space as well as in tight spaces. If he can improve upon his work in tight spaces without the ball in his hands, Reed will make a nice mid-round selection. He's got a high ceiling that would fit nicely in many NFL offenses

[Bravo95]

Without a major turnaround, they might have to commit almost all of their resources to rebuilding both lines, no matter how far the team goes. Dimitroff probably needs to look at upgrading at least four of the nine starters (5 OL + 4 DL).

[Bravo95]

Atlanta Falcons: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

The Falcons could use defensive line help, and Okafor is a great fit in their defense. Mike Nolan can use Okafor as a defensive end or rush linebacker.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Okafor was one of the top defensive ends in the Big XII last season. He was a First-Team All-Big XII selection for his efforts. Okafor totaled 58 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. He had only 2.5 sacks as a sophomore in 2010.

Okafor has some speed to go along with his strength. He is an ascending player who could easily rise high up draft boards. Okafor has 46 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, a blocked kick and a pass batted this year. He made two huge sack-fumbles against Geno Smith to produce a touchdown and a change of possession inside the Mountaineers' 15-yard line. Okafor also blocked a kick in that outing.

Atlanta Falcons: Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

Atlanta doubles up on pass-rushers because the team needs more than one with John Abraham nearing the end of a great career.

Many are raving about the potential of the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Ansah. The senior has totaled 53 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, four sacks and seven passes broken up in 2012 He has exploded on the season after totaling only 10 tackles as a junior and sophomore.

There is no doubt that Ansah has a great combination of size and speed. He could be this year's version of Chandler Jones or Jason Pierre-Paul. Both those players had little college production but are great athletes who flew up draft boards.

Campbell / WalterFootball.com