FalcBlog

This is a good trade for both the Raiders and Falcons. The Falcons were able to get something substantial for a player that wasn't going to be a long-term solution in Atlanta. Now with another second round pick, the Falcons have a lot of draft day ammunition. They can stand pat, and take a very good player with pick No. 34, or they can package it with other picks in order to move back into Round 1 to get another top player.

This trade works for the Raiders, because they get a young corner that now has a bright future in Oakland. He fits exactly the style of defense the Raiders like to employ, and they were able to get a much better cornerback in Hall than they likely would have found in Round 2. The only major downside of this trade is if the Raiders now can't re-up with Nnamdi Asomugha. But I suspect they will. Giving out cash hasn't been an issue for Al Davis the past few weeks.

I suspect the Falcons will use the newest pick to package together with later picks to possibly move into the latter part of Round 1 in order to draft Brian Brohm, since I suspect the team will pass on Matt Ryan with the No. 3 overall pick. A Hall for Brohm deal is worth it, in my opinion.

Posted by Aaron at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

...In regards to improving the offensive line. Granted, there is still plenty of time for moves to be made, but the crop of available offensive linemen is comparatively slim to what it was a week ago. Right now, the only free agents that might be worth the Falcons efforts are guards Larry Allen or Chris Naeole. And Allen is contemplating retirement, and Naeole is coming off a severe enough quad injury that it prompted the Jaguars to release him.

I know many think the Falcons can and will draft Jake Long in the first round of this April's draft. First off, I disagree because I fairly certain (as certain as you can be about the draft in mid-March) that Long will be either the #1 or #2 pick in the draft. And secondly, despite my affinity for Long, I don't think he's another Joe Thomas waiting to happen which is what many are comparing him to. If you ask me, it's no mere coincidence that the Browns added left guard Eric Steinbach, one of the league's premier guards before picking up Thomas, which I'm sure made his transition to the pros a heckuva lot easier. Unless the Falcons can pick up a player the caliber of Steinbach (Allen might qualify) to play left guard, I don't think Justin Blalock is going to be up to that task.

Of course there will be talent available in Round 2 as well, with the Falcons having two picks in that round. But methinks there will be at least four offensive tackles taken in Round 1, if not more. And there's probably only five or six tackles in this entire class that are ready to come in and play left tackle immediately, which doesn't leave much for chance.

No, the Falcons screwed the pooch as far as the left tackle position goes. Maybe the team goes out and makes a large offer to Max Starks. But Starks has struggled often in pass protection in his short NFL career, not exactly the description you want to hear about your next left tackle. Maybe the team picks up Tom Ashworth, who played some spot duty at left tackle in New England and Seattle in recent years. Maybe the team picks up Barry Sims, who has started most of the last 9 years in Oakland at left tackle. But that's the same Barry Sims that gave up 9.5 sacks and was penalized 14 times last year, and has steadily been on the decline for the past 4-5 years. Comparatively, Wayne Gandy gave up 9 sacks and was penalized 7 times in 2006. So if you thought Gandy was bad, then Sims is certainly going to be a lot worse.

At this point, the Falcons best option may be swinging a trade for Jonas Jennings, and then perhaps signing his former linemate in Allen to help solidify the Falcons left side for the next year or two, at least until Blalock and/or our newest rookie have a bit more seasoning under their belts.

Otherwise, I foresee Redman being on his backside quite a bit this year, and the Michael Turner era getting off to a very slow start.

Posted by Aaron at 1:24 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

It was reported that when the Browns re-signed Anderson to his three-year contract, the first of his bonuses was deferred until April. Why does that matter? Because it means the Browns can trade him between now and then without any cap consequences.

When the Browns traded Leigh Bodden, it opened up a hole at cornerback. Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think the Browns plan to go into this season with Daven Holly as a starter.

Previously, it's been speculated on a draft site that the Falcons would trade DeAngelo Hall to Cleveland for Brady Quinn. Now, personally I don't think that trade makes a lot of sense. But I do think we might see Hall traded to Cleveland for Derek Anderson.

Oh no, not in a straight up deal. But if the Falcons offered a 2nd round pick and Hall for Anderson, I think that would be a proposal that the Browns would think about. Whether they actually pull the trigger is completely up to speculation. But it's something to think about.

Anderson's acquisition would mean that the Falcons wouldn't have to use either their first or second round picks on a quarterback, and could now use their top pick on an offensive or defensive lineman, and then still have a second round pick to address needs at other positions if need be.

Just something to think about going forward.

Posted by Aaron at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post

I'm not a fan of this signing. I'm sorry, I know I'm crazy. I know 98% of my fellow Falcon fans are all excited and giddy and were on the verge of not renewing their season tickets until this move, but I'm not among them.

I think the Falcons paid a high premium for what will essentially amount to a non-factor. No, I don't think Turner is crappy, but he's nothing special. The running position is a dime a dozen. Teams will continue to find great value in undrafted free agency and the late rounds, and will be able to continually develop young talent for three or four years, and then be able to successfully move on to the next guy.

I just don't see the genius in paying $34.5 million to another run of the mill running back. For similar reasons I outlined in my McFadden entry, running back is a non-essential position on a rebuilding team. Why bend over backwards for an unproven player?

I think Turner is good player entering the prime of his career, and I think he's a good fit. But I don't think those reasons alone justify a $34.5 million investment. Was Turner arguably the best available option? Yes. But that doesn't justify a $34.5 million investment. The same could be said about Ovie Mughelli last year, but that didn't justify the Falcons rewarded him with the biggest contract ever paid to a fullback, especially when the offense we ran didn't use fullbacks very much. Oh, we'll certainly get plenty of use out of Turner, but in the end I predict it won't justify $34.5 million.

Here's how I can see him justifying his contract, which as I see it puts him in the Top 10 or so of most highly paid running backs in the league. In rushing yards, the 10th ranked rusher had 1119 yards. In touchdowns, it was 8. In yards per carry, it was 4.6 (only counting guys with 150+ carries). In yards per game, it was 80.1. If Turner can achieve just one of these benchmarks in 2008, then he would have justified his contract for that single season. And then we'll see from there. Okay, if he finishes with 1118 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 4.5 yards per carry in only 14 games, then maybe I'll cut him slack...but he's going to have to get close.

Posted by Aaron at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments | links to this post