Eighth pick could be mind-bending for Atlanta

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, April 26, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Atlanta Falcons
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If both Jamaal Anderson and LaRon Landry are still available by the time Saturday's draft comes to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8, look for team officials to milk the clock to its limit making up their minds.

The Falcons love Landry, and quite a few mock drafts have him winding up in Atlanta. The Tiger safety has good size (6 feet, 213), elite speed (4.4) and hits with authority. Plus genes -- his brother already starts at safety for Baltimore.

On the other hand, the injury problems of John Abraham and the loss of Patrick Kerney have left the Falcons alarmingly thin on the defensive line. Anderson, a former high school wide receiver and basketball star, is 6-6, 275, with the type of frame that could add another 25 pounds.

Landry, Anderson. Anderson, Landry. It would be a tough call, and if one of the earlier-drafting teams were to pluck Anderson off the board, that would leave either Gaines Adams, Amobi Okoye or Alan Branch available -- also a difficult choice vis a vis Landry.

Atlanta, which moved up to No. 8 by trading backup QB Matt Schaub to Houston, also has two picks in the second round. Should Landry be the first choice, Atlanta's attention would turn to Hawaii's Ikaika Alama-Francis, Florida's Ray McDonald, Purdue's Anthony Spencer or Michigan's LaMarr Woodley as possibilities at defensive end, the position the Falcons really need to bolster.

Florida's Reggie Nelson would be another sure thing at safety, with Eric Weddle of Utah and Michael Griffin of Texas probably available in Round 2. As for the other second-round picks, Bobby Petrino's team could use offensive line help, another linebacker (both Demorrio Williams and Keith Brooking are entering contract years) and a big back for red zone situations. Plus, if Grady Jackson doesn't return, another wide body on the D-line.

As for their first-round scenario, the Falcons have enough picks (10) to possibly trade up.

Get original Atlanta Falcons draft coverage at RealFootball365.com
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