FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -The Atlanta Falcons began their draft over a month ago.
They traded away one pick, then pulled off an even bigger deal. Now, having addressed their major concerns with some immediate help on defense, the Falcons are prepared to do a lot of sitting around during this weekend's actual draft.
Atlanta is one of two teams that doesn't have a choice in the opening round, dealing it away for three-time Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham.
``That doesn't mean we don't wish we had a first-round pick that could help us for the future,'' general manager Rich McKay said Thursday, ``but as far as trying to get ready for the 2006 season, we don't feel like we have to get this or that.''
Barring another deal, Atlanta won't be selecting until midway through the second round at No. 47 overall. Washington, at No. 53, is the only other team that doesn't need to show up for the first round.
With McKay running the last two drafts, the Falcons did a commendable job plucking talent from the college ranks. Of their 14 picks, 12 are still on the roster and only one - 2004 seventh-rounder Quincy Wilson - is no longer in the league.
But McKay felt he could do a better job of upgrading this year's team through trades, especially an injury-plagued defense that took much of the blame for a second-half collapse that knocked the Falcons out of the playoffs.
First, he dealt a fourth-round pick to Cleveland for Chris Crocker, who will join with free agent signee Lawyer Milloy to provide a major upgrade at safety over 2005 starters Keion Carpenter and Bryan Scott.
Next, McKay worked out a convoluted deal for Abraham, who had a falling-out with the New York Jets and desperately wanted to play for the Falcons. Negotiations stalled when Atlanta balked at trading backup quarterback Matt Schaub, but it all worked out when Denver came aboard to make it a three-way deal.
The Falcons gave up their first-round pick (No. 15 overall), but they kept Schaub and picked up a couple of extra picks - a third-rounder this year, a fourth-rounder in 2007.
``As we looked at it, we said, 'We think we have a very talented football team that has a chance to win, but we have some real holes, that if we don't fill with guys who can play and play for us this year, we won't win,''' McKay said. ``So we're happy to sit here today and say, 'OK, we're not entering this draft with any need.'''
Besides, McKay always manages to pick up some key players in the middle rounds.
Linebacker Michael Boley (fifth round, '05) and defensive tackle Chad Lavalais (fifth round, '04) are both starters on the projected depth chart. In addition, linebacker Demorrio Williams (fourth round '04) and defensive end Chauncey Davis (fourth round, '05) have already gotten significant playing time.
Then there's Schaub, a third-rounder in 2004 who's been pursued by several teams as a potential starter. The Falcons want to hang on to their No. 2 quarterback for as long as possible, knowing Michael Vick has never made it through a season without getting hurt. But McKay will undoubtedly be getting phone calls right up until the draft, perhaps with offers to get back in the first round.
If no deal is made, the Falcons will be looking mainly to improve depth at running back, defensive end, safety and the offensive line.
``We have 22 starters,'' coach Jim Mora said. ``We still have some things we need, but we don't feel the pressure to go out and get someone who can compete for a starting job.''
Of course, it's always risky to trade away a first-round pick. The Falcons were severely burned the last two times they did it.
In 1999, Atlanta gave up a No. 1 in a bizarre move to take tight end Reggie Kelly in the second round. Kelly was never more than a backup with the Falcons, while Baltimore used that first-rounder the following year to land running back Jamal Lewis, who went on to have the second-best rushing season in NFL history.
In 2003, the Falcons traded their top pick to Buffalo for receiver Peerless Price, believing he would fill their most glaring need on offense; instead, he caught only six touchdown passes in two seasons and was cut. The Bills, on the other hand, landed running back Willis McGahee, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season.
But those moves preceded McKay's arrival in Atlanta. He felt it was worth giving up a spot in the first round to get Abraham - especially after the Falcons lost six of their last eight games to finish 2005.
``We ended the season disappointed,'' McKay said. ``We probably didn't have as much depth as we needed to survive some of the injuries that we had, and we just didn't finish playing that well.''
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