With the Falcons holding 11 picks in the NFL draft, they appear primed to make a trade to slide around the draft board in an attempt to fill some of their needs.
Based on a roster analysis, their needs include cornerback, defensive end, linebacker, tight end and right guard.
Here’s a quick look at five prospects who could be available to the Falcons with the 30th pick or could be a target if the Falcons move up in the draft:
Desmond Trufant, CB, 6-0, 190 pounds, Washington. He ran the 40 in 4.38 seconds at the combine. He is watching the draft in his hometown of Tacoma, Wash. The Falcons likely will need to get in front of the Minnesota Vikings, who hold the 22nd and 25th picks in the first round, in order to land Trufant.
Zach Ertz, TE, 6-5, 245, Stanford. He played behind Coby Fleener, who was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft by the Indianapolis Colts. NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock has Ertz as the second-rated tight end in the draft behind Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert. "I think Ertz has a little more explosion than (third-rated tight end Gavin) Escobar," Mayock said.
Tank Carradine, DE, 6-4, 276, FSU. Carradine, who visited the Falcons, ran for pro scouts in his hometown of Cincinnati on Saturday. He ran an impressive 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Some of the teams at the workout with the Falcons were the Bengals, Chiefs, Lions, Browns, Saints, Vikings, Colts, Broncos, Patriots and 49ers.
Kyle Long, OT/OG, 6-6, 313, Oregon. He is the son of former NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long and brother of Chris Long of the St. Louis Rams. The Falcons released starting right tackle Tyson Clabo and could see Long as his replacement or a right guard. "Kyle Long has a ton of versatility," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. "He has the bloodlines with his father, Howie, and his brother, Chris."
Sheldon Richardson, DT, 6-2, 294, Missouri: General manager Thomas Dimitroff has selected safety William Moore and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon from Missouri. Richardson is considered to have impact and playmaking ability by Pro Football Weekly analyst Nolan Nawrocki. "Unique ability to shoot gaps or stack and shed (blockers)," Nawrocki said. "(He) bursts off the ball with leverage and can overwhelm blockers."
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