Falcons select 11 players in 2008 NFL Draft

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons selected 11 players in the 2008 NFL Draft matching the same number of picks the team obtained last year.

The Falcons focused on the offensive side of the ball with the selection of Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan with the third overall pick. Atlanta then traded back into the first round with the Washington Redskins to obtain offensive lineman Sam Baker. To acquire Baker, the Falcons traded the No. 34, No. 48 and No. 103 overall selections to the Redskins for three picks (No. 21, No. 84 and No. 154). The trade marked the first time Atlanta had two selections in the first round since 2004 when cornerback DeAngelo Hall (8th overall) and wide receiver Michael Jenkins (29th overall) were selected by the team.

Ryan compiled a 25-7 overall record as a starting quarterback for Boston College. He earned ACC Player of the Year honors as a senior and emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Ryan ranked eighth in the nation in total offense and established school records for 400-yard passing performances in both a career and a season, throwing for 4,507 yards in 2007.

“This guy is prototypical quarterback, he stands tall in the pocket, he is very intelligent, he’s a big-time leader, he has the accuracy at all levels, and he’s a game winner,” said General Manager Thomas Dimitroff. “In the end, he’ll take a shot in the face and get back up. He’s a hard-nosed quarterback and we’re excited about him being at the helm.”

“I think (Matt Ryan) is very intelligent,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “I think it’s a combination of the intelligence and leadership ability that he has. I can’t stress enough that he has the ability to take on not only the offense as a leader, but the whole team.”

Baker was the anchor at left tackle for the USC Trojans and started 49 of 52 career games on the offensive line. He became only the third three-time All-America first-team selection in school history following the likes of linebacker Richard Wood and quarterback Matt Leinart.

“From my perspective, I saw a young man that started 49 games in the Pac 10 as a left tackle and had a pretty good run with Coach (Pete) Carroll at USC,” said Smith. “He’s a very efficient pass blocker and an outstanding athlete. I really think he’ll be a cornerstone for us on the offensive line to protect our quarterback and also open up holes for our running game.”

With their second-round pick, the Falcons drafted linebacker Curtis Lofton of Oklahoma. Lofton finished his junior campaign with one of the most productive seasons by a defender, as his 157 total tackles are the most by a Sooner player since George Cumby in 1979.

On day two of the draft, Atlanta continued to focus on the defensive side of the ball after selecting cornerback/free safety Chevis Jackson from LSU. Jackson competed with a Tigers defensive unit that ranked third in the nation in total defense in each of the last three seasons. That includes a 242.7 yards per game average in 2006. During his senior season, opposing quarterbacks only completed 25.6 percent of their passes that were thrown his way.

The Falcons wrapped up the third round with two more selections, including wide receiver Harry Douglas (Louisville/Jonesboro High School) at the 84th overall spick and safety Thomas DeCoud (Cal-Berkeley) with the 98th overall choice. Douglas’ 10 100-yard receiving performances over the last two years tied for fifth in Big East Conference history. He finished his career with the Cardinals as the team’s fifth all-time leading receiver with 173 receptions. DeCoud is an athletic pass defender with the quickness to also play cornerback. With his excellent leaping ability and long arms, he blocked six kicks during his first two seasons with the Bears. As a senior, DeCoud was named the defensive captain and earned Cal MVP and All-Pac 10 conference honorable mention accolades.

The Falcons did not make a selection in the fourth round, but with the 138th overall pick in the fifth round, the team took their second linebacker of the draft in Robert James (Arizona State). James helped the Sun Devils defense jump 21 spots in total defense to No. 30 last season. He was voted Arizona State’s Most Valuable Defensive Player last season while leading the team with a career-high 106 tackles. With Atlanta’s second fifth round selection (154th overall), the Falcons brought in defensive end Kroy Biermann of Montana. Biermann was named the 2007 Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP after leading the conference with 15 sacks while collaring 72 total tackles. The Grizzlies defense also ranked second in the nation in scoring defense last season allowing just 14.83 points per game.

In their lone sixth round choice (172nd overall), the Falcons selected running back Thomas Brown, a local product who graduated from Tucker High School and the University of Georgia. Brown ranked fifth in schools annals with 529 carries for 2,646 yards during his Bulldog career while averaging 22.7 yards per kickoff return. His 3,767 all-purpose yards rank fourth in school history, surpassed by Herschel Walker (5,749), Hines Ward (3,870) and Garrison Hearst (3,834).

With two seventh round picks, the Falcons drafted cornerback Wilrey Fontenot (212th overall) from Arizona and tight end Keith Zinger (232nd overall) from LSU. Fontenot started in 45 consecutive games to close his career at Arizona. He compiled 174 total tackles, nine interceptions and recorded one touchdown in 2004. Zinger, a stout blocker, saw action in 54 career games while registering 15 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown. He tallied his career long catch of 27 yards against the University of Tennessee in the 2007 SEC Championship Game.

2008 Atlanta Falcons Draft Choices

 
*Acquired from Washington. The Falcons sent the 34th, 48th and 103rd overall selections to the Redskins for three picks (No. 21, No. 84 and No. 154).
**Acquired from Pittsburgh. Atlanta traded the Steelers CB Allen Rossum last season for the 232nd overall selection.

2008 Atlanta Falcons Draft Facts

The Falcons selected QB Matt Ryan (Boston College) as the 3rd overall pick in the first round...

• Ryan becomes the first Boston College graduate drafted by the Falcons in the first round ever and the first Golden Eagle selected by Atlanta since 1977 (John Maxwell, offensive tackle).
• Ryan is only the third player from Boston College to be selected by the Falcons. The other two are Mike Esposito (1975) and John Maxwell (1977).
• Ryan becomes only the fifth Boston College player selected in the top 10 in NFL Draft history. The other four were Mike Holovak (1943), Don Allard (1959), Bob Hyland (1967) and Mike Mamula (1995).
• Ryan was the second offensive player selected in the draft behind offensive lineman Jake Long (Miami Dolphins). 
   

Atlanta traded up to draft OL Sam Baker (USC) with the 21st overall pick in the first round...

• Baker is the highest offensive linemen selected by the Falcons in the draft since 1993 (Lincoln Kennedy, Washington).
• It was the first time since 2004 (wide receiver Michael Jenkins) that the Falcons traded back into the first round to acquire a player.
• Baker becomes the first player from the University of Southern California to be selected by Atlanta since 2000 (offensive lineman Travis Claridge).
• There have now been 11 players from USC to be drafted by the Falcons in team history.
• Baker becomes the seventh offensive lineman to be selected by the Falcons in the first round in team history (George Kunz – 1968, Warren Byrant – 1977, Mike Kenn – 1978, Bill Fralic – 1985, Bob Whitfield – 1992, Lincoln Kennedy – 1993).
   

The Falcons picked LB Curtis Lofton (Oklahoma) with the 37th overall selection in the second round...

• Lofton becomes the 10th player from Oklahoma selected by the Falcons in team history and the first out of the school since 1993 (cornerback Darnell Walker).
• Lofton is the first linebacker selected by the Falcons in the second round since Darion Conner (Jackson State) was picked in 1990.
• Along with Jordan Beck (third round), Michael Boley (fifth round) and Stephen Nicholas (fifth round), Lofton becomes the fourth linebacker taken by Atlanta in the draft since 2005.
   

With its first third round selection, Atlanta chose CB Chevis Jackson from LSU with the 68th overall selection...

• Jackson is Atlanta’s first pick from LSU since defensive tackle Chad Lavalais was picked in the fifth round in 2004.
• Jackson becomes the first cornerback selected in the third round by the Falcons since 1994 (Anthony Phillips, 1994).
• Atlanta has now drafted at least one cornerback in its last three drafts.
   

The Falcons selected WR Harry Douglas from Louisville with their second third round pick (84th overall)...

• Douglas becomes only the third player selected from Louisville in Falcons history. The other two were cornerback Wally Oyler in 1969 and quarterback John Madeya in 1973.
• Douglas is the highest drafted wide receiver by Atlanta since Roddy White was selected in the first round in 2005.
• Douglas is the first wide receiver drafted in the third round by the Falcons since 1998 when Atlanta chose Jammi German (Miami).
   

S Thomas DeCoud of Cal-Berkeley was picked by the Falcons with their first selection in the fifth round (98th overall)...

• DeCoud is the first player selected from California since Falcons Ring of Honor member, quarterback Steve Bartkowski was drafted in the first round in 1975.
• DeCoud is also only the third Golden Bear to be picked by Atlanta along with Bartkowski and wide receiver Paul Williams (1969).
   

The Falcons selected LB Robert James (138th overall) out of Arizona State with their second fifth round selection...

• James is the seventh player selected from Arizona State in Falcons history and the first since Jeff Paulk was picked in 1999.
• James joins fifth round linebacker counterparts, Stephen Nicholas (2007) and Michael Boley (2005), as picks in the position over the last three years.
   

DE Kroy Biermann (154th overall) out of Montana was the first defensive lineman selected by the Falcons in this year’s draft...

• Biermann is the fourth player selected from Montana in team history and the first since 1976 (Walt Brett).
• Biermann becomes the first defensive end to be selected in the fifth round since 1996 (Gary Bandy, Baylor).
   

With their only sixth round selection, the Falcons drafted RB Thomas Brown (172nd overall) from the University of Georgia...

• Brown is the eighth Georgia draft pick in Falcons history.
• Atlanta has selected three players from the University of Georgia in the last three drafts. Those players include: Brown, tight end Martrez Milner (2007) and quarterback D.J. Shockley (2006).
• Brown is the first running back selected in the sixth round since 2005 when the Falcons chose DeAndra Cobb (Michigan State).
   

CB Wilrey Fontenot (Arizona) was Atlanta’s first of two (212th overall) seventh round selections...

• Fontenot was the second of two cornerback picks by the Falcons in this draft (Chevis Jackson, third round).
• Fontenot is only the second player from Arizona to be drafted by Atlanta. The first was linebacker Donnie Salum in 1990 (eighth round).
   

The Falcons drafted TE Keith Zinger (232nd overall) out of LSU with their final selection...

• Zinger is the second player from LSU to be drafted by Atlanta in this year’s draft. The other was cornerback Chevis Jackson in the third round.
• Zinger now becomes the ninth player drafted by the Falcons out of LSU.
• Zinger is Atlanta’s first tight end drafted in the seventh round since 1978 (James Wright, TCU).