The Falcons released quarterback Joey Harrington Wednesday. It's another move at a position that has been turned upside down during the last year.

It all began with the indefinite suspension and imprisonment Michael Vick. The release of Harrington (10 starts) comes weeks after Atlanta released Byron Leftwich (two starts). Chris Redman (four starts), just re-signed for two years, and D.J. Shockley, a second-year backup recovering from a season-ending knee injury, are the only quarterbacks on the roster.

The Falcons are expected to select a quarterback at some point in the April 26-27 NFL draft. However, with gaping holes along the offensive and defensive lines, they might use the No. 3 overall pick to solidify those interior positions. This means waiting before taking a quarterback they hope will stabilize the sport's most important position.

Harrington's release, as ironic as it might seem, could even fortify that thinking. Detroit took Harrington third overall in 2002. He was thrust into the long-suffering franchise's savior role, despite not having the offensive line or receiving corps to ease the burden. Sound familiar?

Four years of failed deliverance and Harrington was released. He was signed by Miami in 2006, where, after injuries to Daunte Culpepper, Harrington started and struggled again. He was let go for the second time. The Falcons signed him last spring after trading Matt Schaub to Houston. Like Schaub, Atlanta didn't expect Harrington to take many snaps because Vick was the constant.

Over the summer, Vick was indicted and pleaded guilty to federal charges related to dogfighting, leading to his 23-month sentence and NFL-imposed indefinite suspension.

Enter Harrington: 10 starts, seven touchdowns, eight interceptions, four benchings and pink-slipped again.

Harrington's potential may have never fully developed because of the physical and mental poundings he took early in his career.

New Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has expressed concerns about playing a young quarterback without the proper parts in place to protect him. That doesn't mean he couldn't draft Boston College's Matt Ryan, considered the top quarterback prospect, and have him sit for most of the season.

If Atlanta were to draft Ryan third overall, the Falcons could miss out on left tackle Jake Long (Michigan) or defensive linemen Glenn Dorsey (LSU) or Sedrick Ellis (USC). They are players who could fill voids just as gaping as the one at quarterback. The Falcons cut veteran left offensive tackle Wayne Gandy and defensive tackle Rod Coleman. Starting nose tackle Trey Lewis recently re-tore his ACL in his right knee and his playing status is in jeopardy.

How Dimitroff prioritizes team needs will determine where a quarterback is acquired. The draft is relatively deep in quarterbacks and offensive tackles, but not defensive tackles.

The Falcons could continue to add through free agency. Offensive tackle Maurice Williams is available and the team is expected to re-sign free agent Tyson Clabo, a part-time starter who, as a second-year player, can't negotiate with any team but the Falcons. At defensive tackle, Grady Jackson could return after being cut last season and signed by Jacksonville, where current coach Mike Smith served as defensive coordinator before Atlanta hired him in February.

Daunte Culpepper, Tim Rattay, Mark Brunell and Kelly Holcomb head the list of free-agent quarterbacks. Tampa Bay's Chris Simms could become available. Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman has been mentioned in possible trades.

If the Falcons don't choose Ryan in the first round, they could use one of their two second-round picks on prospects Chad Henne (Michigan), Brian Brohm (Louisville), Joe Flacco (Delaware) or John David Booty (USC).