Going into the NFL Draft last season the Falcons knew that QB Michael Vick was going to the pokey for dog fighting.  He will likely never play for them again after the Falcons hit a homer in the draft with first round selection Matt Ryan.  All Ryan did last season was start all 16 games and he completed 265 of 434 passes (61.1%) for 3,440 yards with 16 TD passes and 11 interceptions (87.7 QB Rating).  He also carried the football 55 times for 104 yards (1.9 ypc) with a TD run.  Ryan will likely be a Pro Bowler soon as he was one of the main reasons that the Falcons made the playoffs last season.  The Falcons’ other first round pick last season was OT Sam Baker.  Baker played in 8 games (5 starts) for the Falcons last season and he showed the capability to turn into a very good lineman in the near future.  The Falcons had another solid pick in the 2nd round when they selected inside linebacker Curtis Lofton.  Lofton played in all 16 games (15 starts) for the Falcons last season and he made 94 tackles, had 1 sack, forced 1 fumble and defensed 3 passes.  While Lofton doesn’t make a lot of game changing plays he is a solid run defender in the middle of the Falcons’ defense and he should be a starter for a long time for them.   The first of the 3rd rounders the Falcons selected was WR Harry Douglas and the sky is the limit for him.  He played in all 16 games (0 starts) for the Falcons last season and he caught 23 passes for 320 yards (13.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the football 12 times for 69 yards (5.8 ypc) with 1 TD run last year.  Douglas has the potential to move into the starting lineup soon for the Falcons and make a huge impact when he gets there because of his speed.  Douglas also was outstanding on special teams for the Falcons last season.  He returned 19 punts for 226 yards (11.9 avg) with a TD return.  He also returned 4 kickoffs for 46 yards (11.5 avg) last year.  Douglas was another outstanding pick for the Falcons last season.  The other 3rd round pick for the Falcons last season was free safety Thomas DeCoud.  DeCoud played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Falcons and he only made 6 tackles.  The Falcons expect more out of him in 2009.  5th rounder Kroy Biermann (outside linebacker) was a solid reserve and special teams player for the Falcons in 2008.  He played in all 16 games (0 starts) and he made 21 tackles.  He could eventually be a starter for the Falcons down the road.  5th rounder Robert James (OLB) and 6th rounder Thomas Brown (RB) were both injured last season before the season started and didn’t play in 2008.  7th rounder Keith Zinger (TE) never made it to the field in the regular season as he was stuck on the practice squad.  Fellow 7th rounder Wilrey Fontenot (CB) was waived before the season started but hooked on with the Cardinals.

GRADE FOR 2008:  A

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  A