EDITOR'S NOTE: Managing Editor J. Michael Moore sat down with Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff earlier this week to recap the NFL Draft from his perspective. In part one of this two-part series, learn about some of the behind-the-scenes discussions on what was a very busy -- and productive -- first day for Dimitroff and his staff.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- General Manager Thomas Dimitroff knew his first draft as personnel boss would be a busy one. What he didn't know was exactly what would happen.
A meticulous planner, Dimitroff had almost every scenario outlined in his head. He and Head Coach Mike Smith even had the team's third overall pick (quarterback Matt Ryan) decided on nearly two whole days before the first pick. But something about draft day makes even the best-designed plans require some last-minute editing.
With the Miami Dolphins making Jake Long the de facto No. 1 pick on Tuesday, there wasn't much for the rookie general manager to worry about in the opening moments of the draft. So, he and Smith entered the draft room as the St. Louis Rams went on the clock with the No. 2 overall selection. That's when news reached him that the Baltimore Ravens were trying to make an offer to trade from No. 8 to the second spot, presumably to select Ryan.
Time to get to work.
"A lot of people in the draft room at that point didn't know what our decision was," Dimitroff said. "We decided on Thursday night, but you never know. Trades were coming; they were flying around... There were phone calls back and forth and there was quite a bit of buzz about an hour before the draft started.
"Baltimore wanted to come up higher to get Matt Ryan. We didn't know the legitimacy of that move (but) we've since found out that it was a very strong offer. We decided to anchor in and it all worked out in our favor."
The team selected Ryan at No. 3 and spent the rest of the weekend answering questions about the selection. Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey was on the board. Considering the rest of the draft, Dimitroff said the team made the right decision.
"Even if we didn't pick the quarterback we knew past the first one or two guys on the draft board that there was definitely a fall off," he said later in the week. "The character fit and the personality fit was huge for us as well. There may have been a couple other guys on the board that may have been considered by other teams but we didn't think at this stage of the Falcon development we could bring a person in here that we didn't think was going to be an ideal fit for us."
Dimitroff said the decision to select Ryan set the stage for the team's next pick. He knew there could be a run at offensive line -- a deep position in this year's draft -- but he didn't know specifics until around the 12th pick. That's when Denver selected Ryan Clady and offensive linemen started falling off the board. Four offensive tackles were taken in the next six picks.
Dimitroff worked the phones before the draft evaluating potential trade partners. He pulled out his Rolodex again at the No. 13 pick.
"People wanted to have their scenarios mapped out." he said. "Now when draft day started people started calling again and we started to get pick specific... Interestingly enough, Philadelphia was really interested (at No. 19) and we thought we were interested. But they were asking way too much; they were actually asking for a future first-round pick and we were opposed to that."
The Eagles got a future first-round selection from the Panthers who traded into the spot and selected offensive tackle Jeff Otah. Dimitroff said the Falcons had conversations with the Buccaneers, Redskins and Seahawks amongst other teams in an attempt to get a left tackle before the pool went dry. The trigger was pulled on No. 21, the Falcons selected Sam Baker and the rest is history.
"We had to be aggressive," he said. "There are ideal scenarios in a draft setup and then there are what we refer to as the realistic side of it. Some of these guys may be ideally a second-round pick and you can get them early in the second round. But you have to gauge how the draft is going. Simply stated, Sam Baker wasn't getting out of the first. Even if there wasn't that much of a run I guarantee you he would have been gone by Green Bay or some of the later picks in the first round."
The general manager described the scene in the draft room as a "stock exchange" as trade talk heated up. Dimitroff remained on the phone while others worked the trade charts and crunched the numbers.
The Falcons sent picks No. 34 (second round), No. 48 (second round) and No. 103 (fourth round) to Washington for No. 21 (first round), No. 84 (third round) and No. 154 (fifth round). There was no net loss of picks (an important aspect discussed more in part two of this series).
In the process, Atlanta got its tackle of the future to protect it's franchise-type quarterback.
Not a bad first day for the former Patriots scouting boss.
"The first draft was everything I thought it would be and more," Dimitroff said. "It was steeped in excitement and adrenaline rushes. There was much planning and movement within the room. Everyone was very focused. I was very impressed with the way the college scouting staff and our coaching staff came together down the stretch preparing for what we felt like was a monumental draft. We had to make some very hard decisions and very pointed decisions and we felt very good about the direction we went."
DRAFT NEWS:
- MULTIMEDIA: Click here for all NFL Draft video and audio
- NEWS: Falcons select Ryan third overall | Quotes | Photos
- TRADE: Draft-day trade opens door to select Baker
- NEWS: Birds trade up to land Baker | Quotes | Photos
- NEWS: Falcons select Lofton in second round | Quotes | Photos
- QUOTABLE: Draft Day Presser Part One | Part Two
- QUOTABLE: First Round Introductions
- NEWS: First round picks embrace the A-T-L
- NEWS: LSU's Jackson becomes Falcons third-round pick | Quotes | Photos
- NEWS: Speedy receiver Douglas added in third | Quotes | Photos
- NEWS: Falcons focus on secondary, add hard-hitting safety | Quotes | Photos
- NEWS: Atlanta takes "The Beast" in the fifth round | Photos
- NEWS: Biermann could switch from defensive end | Photos
- NEWS: Georgia Bulldog stays close to home | Quotes | Photos
- NEWS: Birds turn back to cornerback, Draft Fontenot | Photos
- NEWS: Falcons close out 2008 Draft with tight end selection | Photos
- QUOTABLE: Falcons Draft Wrap | Audio
- RELEASE: Falcons draft 11 players in 2008
