The Falcons’ No. 6 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft marks the highest draft position they have seen since head coach Mike Smith came to Atlanta in 2008. In fact, there have been just 22 times in the 48-year history of the franchise that the Falcons used a top-10 pick. The importance of this year’s draft is common knowledge by now and two new members were added to the personal department this past week to make sure that no stone is left unturned this offseason. Former Kansas City Chiefs’ general manager Scott Pioli was hired earlier this off-season as assistant GM and the newest hires are former St. Louis GM Billy Devaney and long-time talent evaluator Russ Bolinger.
Devaney brings more than 30 years of NFL personnel experience to the Falcons, including his four years as the Rams’ GM. Bolinger joins the Falcons after working under Devaney in St. Louis and spending five seasons as a national scout for the Washington Redskins after nine seasons with the Detroit Lions. Bolinger is the guy you need for evaluating talent in the trenches and he played seven seasons on the offensive line in Detroit before finishing his ca-reer with the Los Angeles Rams. “Billy and Russ are experienced talent evaluators and I am pleased to add them to our personnel department,” said Falcons’ general manager Thomas Dimitroff. “I am confident that by adding Billy and Russ we have made our personnel department better.”
HEAT OF THE MOMENT …
The Falcons seem to be set to draft either a pass rusher or offensive lineman, but as head coach Mike Smith alludes to, drafting early in the first round has its challenges. “When you are picking in the top seven or eight it is a different dynamic,” explained Smith. “It is pretty clear that there are seven, eight or 10 guys that warrant that pick and you have to go through all the different scenarios. When you are picking in the back of the first round it is a little bit different because you have a lot more choices.” Day 1 of the league year is March 7 and more roster moves will likely be made at that point regarding free agency and recalibrating the roster. Compensatory draft picks are re-warded in mid-March and this year’s NFL Draft will begin Thursday, May 8.
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