AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 03
Thursday, April 3, 2008
No trade offers for No. 3 pick — yet
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Palm Beach, Fla. - I just posted this story on our website, but chime in on what you think might happen or what the Falcons should do if some trade opportunities - regarding the draft - come their way. I don’t think that a team will try to move into the Falcons’ No. 3 spot, if for nothing else, the economics of the pick.
Top five picks are very expensive and more and more teams are trying to optimize value with personnel and price tag. I do think Atlanta is going to get a lot of trade offers for at least one of the second-round picks and I wouldn’t be shocked if the Falcons dangle one to move up into the first round to get a quarterback or offensive lineman.
Here’s the story I just posted with GM Thomas Dimitroff’s take:
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said, the way things stand now, Atlanta will keep the No. 3 overall pick in the April 26-27 draft.
“I have not been contacted about a trade,” Dimitroff said at the NFL owners meetings. “I would be open to [a trade] but if we see the right player at No. 3, we’ll take him and not look back.”
Dimitroff said he expects some trade options to present themselves as the draft nears but he’s unsure if it will come at the top of the draft or with the highly desired, three second-round picks. If the offer(s) is enticing enough, the first time GM said he’s willing to deal.
“Philosophically, I’ve never been against trading back,” said Dimitroff, whose most extensive draft experience came with New England, where he served as the director of college scouting. “Being around the Patriots as long as I was, we were very active in draft-day trade. You have to be adaptable.”
The Falcons have 11 draft picks - seven in the first 103 selections, four in the top 48.
