[JRL]

Well the season is obviously done so we can stick a fork in it and start looking forward to the draft. Usually you look at a few needs and start formulating a plan however the Falcons appear to need help at almost every position.

Defensive weakness in order of need – run stoppers perhaps a tackle and LB, pass defense maybe a CB (assuming D Hall stays) and definitely a safety. DL is okay if they get on the field for more than a few games a year.

Offense weakness - no order as the entire offensive sucks – OL, QB, WR and TE. A backup RB assuming Dunn is done and Norwood develops into an every down back (I think he can).

[simple simon]

imo the process has to start with veteran free agents and trades .... look at just this season

Randy Moss - Adalius Thomas - Vinny Testaverde - Jeff Garcia - the list goes on and on ...... so get what you can here

as for the draft, imo certain positions are more likely to be a sure bet then others ............ DONT DRAFT A QB EARLY IN THE FIRST ROUND ....... for every Peyton Manning there are 10 Ryan Leafs ........ take a player you can test easily in a workout ........... if a WR can run a 4.3 in a workout and has a nice leap .... then he also will in the NFL no matter who is covering him, same thing with sure hands .............. there is no QB in college right now that has any pressure like what he will face in the NFL, so you dont know how they will react until you get them in a game (much safer imo to go with a vet like Garcia) .. no college QB right now has the likes of Richard Seymore, Jr Seau and Adalius Thomas chasing him around (i pick them because i know Pats pass rushers, but any team will do)

draft most positions out of the SEC as they face the toughest competition every week they play imo ..... if a Bama guard or tackle can make his blocks 97% of the snaps .. then by all means pick him up, he is a work-horse (again Bama is an example, as any SEC team will do)

if you have to draft a QB wait at least until the 3rd round .... first of all it is much less money if he is a Ryan Leaf ........ it doesnt need to be a school that wins all the time (as long as it isnt his fault they lose) .. if your team sucks and you want him to start soon, he should know how to take losing and still go out there and ask for more .. not get all depressed and make stupid decisions ..... pick a QB with a strong arm (the Jets have relied on Pennington and he has a weak arm and it is costing them 1/3 of the field he cant throw to) .. he needs to have at least a little scramble ability ...... he needs to be a leader ...... i dont care if he just led his team to a lowly title most people have never heard of, he is still a leader and that offense listened to him or they wouldnt have won

ok, i have rambled on enough and im sure most here will just see it as a load of hooey

let me leave you with a last piece of advice for now ..... look long and hard at drafting graduates from the Military Academies ..... i spent 5 yrs in the
Army, and i think i have a little insight here ..... those kids spent 4 yrs doing ONLY what they were told to the best of their abilities .... they do everything at 100% ............. if they graduated it is my opinion they faced tougher challenges on a daily basis then most anyone else you could draft .. and they survived

[garron]

Depending on how they truly finish this year will really determine which round they go for in QB imo. If we finish with no more wins or just 1 or 2 more wins then QB will probably be first round. OTOH the Falcons might be gun-shy on drafting for a QB, especially in a high round. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to trade for one.

I think OL will be a priority. Lots of folks think they go after McFadden but I really don't think they will. They better go after a kicker!

[Lefty Noob]

When you get down to it, Atlanta needs to draft the best athlete available, regardless of position. They have a long rebuilding project ahead of them.