Coming from Patriots, Dimitroff used to drafting late

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff is comfortable picking late in the first round of the NFL Draft.

During his days in New England, the Patriots rarely had a top-10 pick but always seemed to find good players late.

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Associated Press

Brian Cushing

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This year the Falcons will wait, watch and attack when USC linebacker Brian Cushing falls to them.

The theme of the day will be defense. After five starters left in free agency, all levels need an infusion of talent.

“We need to go into the draft with an arrangement of our needs across the board,” Dimitroff said. “Every position is ranked. I think that’s important. It’s not like we just have three needs, and we are throwing darts at the best players. We’ll continue to be needs-based and fill holes through the draft.”

If Cushing doesn’t drop to the Falcons, look for another good defender to be selected — either Missouri defensive tackle Ziggy Hood, Mississippi defensive tackle Peria Jerry or Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English.

The Falcons will address the secondary later in the draft with Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas, Troy State safety Sherrod Martin, Georgia cornerback Asher Allen and New Mexico cornerback Glover Quin as potential targets.

Staff writer D. Orlando Ledbetter projects the first round in his 2009 mock draft:

1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, LT, Baylor

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest

4. Seattle Seahawks: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

5. Cleveland Browns: Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas

6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith, T, Alabama

7. Oakland Raiders: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremy Macklin, WR, Missouri

9. Green Bay Packers: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

10. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Oher, T, Mississippi

11. Buffalo Bills: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State

12: Denver Broncos (from Chicago): B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

13. Washington Redskins: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee

14. New Orleans Saints: Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Ohio State

15. Houston Texans: Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State

16. San Diego Chargers: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

17. New York Jets: Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

18. Denver Broncos: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas): Rey Maualuga, LB, USC

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

22. Minnesota Vikings: Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

23. New England Patriots: Larry English, DE, Northern Illinois

24. Atlanta Falcons: Brian Cushing, LB, USC

25. Miami Dolphins: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

26. Baltimore Ravens: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

27. Indianapolis Colts: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

28. Buffalo Bills (from Carolina through Philadelphia): Eben Britton, T, Arizona

29. New York Giants: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State

30. Tennessee Titans: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

31. Arizona Cardinals: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia