Cornerback DeAngelo Hall spent a good portion of his four years with the Falcons talking about making history. The past few days he's studied some all-time greats whose ranks he plans to join: Jack Tatum, Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes -- the most famous defensive backs to play for the Raiders.

Hall, a two-time Pro Bowler with Atlanta, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that he is close to finalizing terms on a new contract with Oakland. The deal will set in motion an agreed upon trade in which the Falcons would receive two selections in the April 26-27 NFL draft.

Hall said he is scheduled to fly to Oakland today to meet with team officials and sign his contract once the trade is formally declared today or Thursday. The Falcons will save nearly $3 million against the salary cap by trading Hall.

"There is just some tweaking of the language that needs to be done, some minor details," Hall, 24, said of contract negotiations. "No deal breakers."

It won't be long before the Falcons see Hall again. The Falcons play at Oakland in 2008. A date for the game will be set when the NFL schedules are announced next month.

Atlanta will receive a second-round and sixth-round pick from Oakland. It's compensation the team feels will help rebuild a team that has gone through radical changes since the end of the season. The Falcons will enter the draft with 11 picks -- four in the top 48.

Atlanta holds the third overall pick along with three second-round picks: No. 34 (Oakland), No. 37 and No. 48 (2007 Matt Schaub trade with Houston). That provides the Falcons with flexibility to trade up or down or use the prime selections to continue to rebuild the roster.

With so many holes, the majority of those draft picks could play right away.

While stockpiling the means to re-construct a team that has fallen on hard times since appearing in the NFC championship game in 2004, Atlanta has to replace a wealth of talent that now includes the loss of Hall.

The Falcons recently signed Houston free agent Von Hutchins, who can play cornerback. However, he was projected to compete for the nickel back and backup safety spots. David Irons, a 2007 sixth-round draft pick, and Brent Grimes, who made the team as an undrafted free agent in 2006, could also compete for the cornerback job opposite 2007 second-round pick Chris Houston.

Hall's replacement might not be on the roster right now, either. He also might not be as productive -- at least not right away.

Hall (17 career interceptions, 228 tackles) was named to two Pro Bowls and was considered one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. They are credentials at a key position that typically doesn't lead to a player's departure at such a young age.

However, Hall's outspokenness, temper, self-promotion and expectations for a high-level contract were traits new leadership and owner Arthur Blank, who wants to rebuild the team's image after the Michael Vick saga, didn't want to deal with.

Hall said more than once that he would not take the field for Atlanta in 2008 without a contract extension. He told the AJC last month that he no longer wanted to play for the Falcons.

The monetary bar for a new contract for Hall was set early in free agency when Philadelphia signed New England cornerback Asante Samuel to a six-year, $57 million deal with $20 million in guarantees. Terms of Hall's proposed deal with Oakland aren't known, but they are expected to be less, but close to, Samuel's contract.

Note: Denver free-agent kicker Jason Elam, a Brookwood High alum, is scheduled to visit the Falcons Wednesday.