New York — Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, nattily dressed, sat behind a small table at this pre-NFL draft media event at Chelsea Piers. He answered questions about playing for the Falcons. He seemed to have little idea how possibly being selected No. 3 overall by Atlanta is a painful reminder of why he's even being considered as the Falcons' next franchise quarterback.

It was exactly a year ago that Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was here on the eve of the NFL draft, proclaiming his non-involvement in a dogfighting operation police had just discovered at his home in Virginia at the infamous 1915 Moonlight Road address. Vick's then-plea of innocence to the public and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell turned out to be a confessed lie that ended with him in prison and suspended from the league.

The Falcons, in turn, were left in shambles and in search of Vick's replacement. Could the rangy kid out of New England be that guy?

"I think I stack up well," Ryan said. "I'm confident in my abilities."

Ryan (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) is projected as the top quarterback in the draft. He started 32 games, completing nearly 60 percent of his throws for 9,313 yards and 56 touchdowns. He's also thrown 37 interceptions — 19 as a senior.

There are a variety of opinions of whether he's significantly better than prospects Brian Brohm (Louisville), Chad Henne (Michigan) or Joe Flacco (Delaware), who've been pegged as late first-round or early-to-middle second-round picks.

There has been discussion among the Falcons' decision-makers whether they should make a play for Ryan.

If not, they could draft a player at another position with the third selection (possibly LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey). They could trade down, draft a non-quarterback, collect additional picks and use one of their choices — they enter the draft with 11 — on Brohm, Henne, Flacco or maybe Kentucky's Andre Woodson.

"It's part of the position that you play," Ryan said about speculation on his draft fate. "There's always a lot of attention given to the quarterback position. You're always in the limelight. Being at the top end of the draft or being considered at the top end of the draft is probably why there's a lot of attention given to [trade talk]. Whether it ends up a trade or regular pick, it will be pretty exciting."

Ryan said he came away impressed with his recent meeting with Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, coach Mike Smith, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and team owner Arthur Blank. Ryan, as well as Dorsey, said Blank was the only team owner to take part in interviews with them.

Ryan's interpretation of Blank's involvement: "It shows that they were considering me, but at the end of the day you just don't know. Maybe it's good, maybe it's bad."

The Falcons' decision will be made easier when St. Louis, which holds the No. 2 pick, makes its choice (Miami already signed Michigan tackle Jake Long with the No. 1 pick). The Rams reportedly have narrowed their choice to Dorsey and Virginia defensive end Chris Long.

If the Rams take Long, Atlanta could pounce on Dorsey. If St. Louis takes Dorsey, the Falcons could select Ryan or pursue trade options.

"The draft is a funny thing," Ryan said. "Not many people give you information as to what's going on. A lot of things depend on what shakes out early in the draft, who goes to which team and how certain things are going to play out. I wish I had a better feel for it, but your guess is as good as mine."