Atlanta Falcons Offseason Summary and Grades
By Scott Carasik
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Key Losses
Traded CB Chris Houston
LS Mike Schneck and TE Jason Rader retired
Trades
Atlanta sent CB Chris Houston to Detroit for their 6th round pick (#171 overall used on S Shann Schillinger) and a 2011 conditional pick.
Free Agency
Re-signed QB Chris Redman, RB Jerious Norwood, RB/FB Jason Snelling, OT Tyson Clabo, OG Harvey Dahl,
OL Quinn Ojinnaka, CB Brian Williams and P Michael Koenen.
Signed CB Dunta Robinson and S Matt Giordano
Signed as undrafted free agents RB Dmitri Nance WR Brandyn Harvey WR Ryan Wolfe WR Tim Buckley TE Leroy Banks TE Colin Peek TE Michael Palmer DE Emmanuel Stephens DE Rajon Henley DT Trey Bryant LB Weston Johnson LB Bear Woods CB Dominique Daniels S Rafael Bush S Gabe Derricks K Garrett Lindholm LS Justin Drescher
Draft Grade = B
19 Atlanta Falcons - OLB Sean Weatherspoon - 6'1-3/8" 239 - Missouri
Atlanta had a huge need for the Outside Linebacker spot. Weatherspoon is a true leader with Ray Lewis style leadership. Grade: A+
83 Atlanta Falcons - DT Corey Peters - 6'3-1/4" 300 - Kentucky
Yeah Atlanta needed some DT depth, but this was too early and even a player reach. Should have taken Griffen or Campbell here. Grade: C-
98 Atlanta Falcons - OG Mike Johnson - 6'5-1/4" 312 - Alabama
The Falcons get a good value pick here in Johnson, but I have to think that Campbell or Griffen would have been better fits. Grade: B
117 Atlanta Falcons - C Joe Hawley - 6'2-5/8" 297 - UNLV
A bit of a reach here, but will be Atlanta's C for years once McClure retires. Real scrappy tough player. Grade: B
135 Atlanta Falcons - CB Dominique Franks - 5'11" 194 - Oklahoma
I didn't think that CB was a need anymore, but Franks is great value here. Grade: A
165 Atlanta Falcons - WR Kerry Meier - 6'2-1/8" 224 - Kansas
A bit of a reach here, but fills the need. Strong and fast, could very well be the next Finneran. Grade: B
171 Atlanta Falcons - S Shann Schillinger - 5'11-3/8" 199 - Montana
This pick makes no sense. There is no need for a S, and he is the 47th best S in the draft. Grade: F
Overall Grade based on talent acquired and team needs met: A
The Falcons did an excellent job of addressing all of their needs outside of the DE need. They likely feel that Biermann and Sidbury can play the role needed and that they didn't need to draft or sign a defensive end. They improved their secondary by bringing in Franks and Schillinger in the Draft while also re-signing Brian Williams and bringing in Dunta Robinson and Matt Giordano. They improved the offensive line depth tremendously with the picks of Johnson and Hawley. They also improved the Defensive Tackle rotation a lot by bringing in Corey Peters. Kerry Meier should have a spot as at least a #4 WR on the team and Sean Weatherspoon should be the instant starter at the Weakside Linebacker spot.
Projected Depth Chart heading into training camp:
QB - Matt Ryan/Chris Redman/J.P. Wilson/D.J. Shockley
RB - Michael Turner/Jerious Norwood/Jason Snelling/Antone Smith/Dmitri Nance
3DRB - Jerious Norwood/Jason Snelling/Antone Smith
FB - Ovie Mughelli/Jason Snelling
WR Featured - Roddy White/Kerry Meier/Troy Bergeron/Tim Buckley
WR Possession - Michael Jenkins/Brian Finneran/Brandyn Harvey
WR Slot - Harry Douglas/Eric Weems/Andy Strickland/Ryan Wolfe
TE - Tony Gonzalez/Justin Peelle/Keith Zinger/Colin Peek/Leroy Banks/Michael Palmer
LT - Sam Baker/Will Svitek
LG - Justin Blalock/Mike Johnson/Jose Valdez
C - Todd McClure/Joe Hawley/Brett Romberg/Rob Bruggeman
RG - Harvey Dahl/Quinn Ojinnaka/Brett Romberg/Blake Schlueter
RT - Tyson Clabo/Garrett Reynolds
LDE - Kroy Biermann/Jamaal Anderson/Chauncey Davis/Emmanuel Stephens
NT - Peria Jerry/Corey Peters/Thomas Johnson/Trey Lewis/Trey Bryant
UT - Jonathan Babineaux/Vance Walker/Jamaal Anderson/Dan Klecko
RDE - John Abraham/Lawrence Sidbury/Maurice Lucas/Rajon Henley
WLB - Sean Weatherspoon/Mike Peterson/Spencer Adkins/Weston Johnson
MLB - Curtis Lofton/Mike Peterson/Robert James
SLB - Stephen Nicholas/Mike Peterson/Coy Wire/Bear Woods
LCB - Christopher Owens/Brent Grimes/Dominique Franks
RCB - Dunta Robinson/Chevis Jackson/Brian Williams/Dominique Daniels
FS - Thomas Decoud/Erik Coleman/Shann Schillinger/Rafael Bush
SS - Erik Coleman/William Moore/Matt Giordano/Brian Williams/Gabe Derricks
K - Matt Bryant/Garrett Lindholm
P - Michael Koenen
LS - Joe Zelenka/Justin Drescher
KR - Eric Weems/Jerious Norwood
PR - Eric Weems/Harry Douglas/Dominique Franks
Starter is Bolded
Free Agent Acquisitions are Italicised
Draft picks are Underlined
