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2013 NFL Mock Draft: Atlanta Falcons Select...

Remember when the Falcons had a 17-0 lead that was 24-14 come halftime, before getting shutout in the 2nd half and allowing the 49ers to move on to the Super Bowl? BTSC user MDR21 has the pick.

USA TODAY Sports

This pick could have gone in a lot of different directions. With the releases of OT Tyson Clabo, DE John Abraham and RB Michael Turner, and the uncertainty surrounding the return of TE Tony Gonzalez, there were a lot of holes to fill on a team that is built to win now.

Those questions marks were addressed in pretty rapid fire -- the return of Gonzalez, the signing of former St. Louis workhorse Steven Jackson at RB, and the signing of Osi Umenyiora at DE (although the latter may be a situational player only).

This franchise is desperate to win it all now-MDR21

One train of thought for the Atlanta Falcons would be to target the best value (say, if a Tyler Eifert had been sitting here), especially if Gonzalez had not returned. This franchise is desperate to win it all now to legitimize their investment in Matty Ice, and also the significant trade up for Julio Jones in 2011.

With the 30th pick, the Atlanta Falcons select Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington.

Usatsi_7086724_medium
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Desmond Trufant represents tremendous value here at #30 AND fills a tremendous need-MDR21

This pick basically boiled down to a pass rushing DE or a CB, and Desmond Trufant represents tremendous value here at #30 AND fills a tremendous need.

With Brent Grimes gone to Miami and Dunta Robinson released and signed in Kansas City, the Falcons are down to just Asante Samuel and a bunch of guys at CB.

Trufant's pro day stats are impressive, and most importantly, align with what you see on tape:

Combine stats (Top Performer *):

  • 40-yard dash: (4.38 sec) *
  • 225-lb Bench Press: (16 reps)
  • Vertical Jump: (37.5 inches)
  • Broad Jump: (125.0 inches)
  • 20-yard shuttle: (3.85 sec) *

Trufant is likely a plug and play starter from day one, a probably a key piece to watch if the Falcons are eventually able to make it to the Super Bowl next year.


Team Player Pos School BTSC rep
1 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/KC.png Star Lotulelei DT Utah [Link to pick]
2 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/JAC.png Dion Jordan DE/OLB Oregon [Link to pick]
3 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/OAK.png Sharrif Floyd DT Florida [Link to pick]
4 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/PHI.png Dee Milliner CB Alabama [Link to pick]
5 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/DET.png Eric Fisher OT Central Michigan [Link to pick]
6 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CLE.png Luke Joeckel OT Texas A&M [Link to pick]
7 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/ARI.png Lane Johnson OT Oklahoma [Link to pick]
8 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/BUF.png Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU [Link to pick]
9 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/NYJ.png Chance Warmack OG Alabama [Link to pick]
10 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/TEN.png Jonathan Cooper OG North Carolina [Link to pick]
11 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/SD.png Tavon Austin WR West Virginia [Link to pick]
12 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/MIA.png Xavier Rhodes CB Florida State [Link to pick]
13 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/TB.png Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU [Link to pick]
14 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CAR.png Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee [Link to pick]
15 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/NO.png Jarvis Jones OLB Georgia [Link to pick]
16 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/STL.png Kenny Vaccaro S Texas [Link to pick]
17 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/PIT.png Tyler Eifert TE Notre Dame [Link to pick]
18 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/DAL.png Sheldon Richardson DT Missouri [Link to pick]
19 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/NYG.png Bjoern Werner DE Florida State [Link to pick]
20 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CHI.png D.J. Fluker OT Alabama [Link to pick]
21 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/CIN.png Alec Ogletree LB Georgia [Link to pick]
22 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/STL.pngviahttp://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/WAS.png Eddie Lacy RB Alabama [Link to pick]
23 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/MIN.png Sylvester Williams DT North Carolina [Link to pick]
24 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/IND.png Datone Jones DE UCLA [Link to pick]
25 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/MIN.pngviahttp://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/SEA.png Geno Smith QB West Virginia [Link to pick]
26 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/GB.png Johnathan Hankins DT Ohio State [Link to pick]
27 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/HOU.png Arthur Brown LB Kansas State [Link to pick]
28 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/DEN.png Matt Elam S Florida [Link to pick]
29 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/NE.png Keenan Allen WR California [Link to pick]
30 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/ATL.png Desmond Trufant CB Washington MDR21
31 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/SF.png


afbassi
32 http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/nfl/logos/50x50/BAL.png


Mr MaLoR