The Atlanta Falcons bet the farm a few years ago to trade into the top 10 of the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft to select Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. Not only did that gamble pay off, it appears it has the Falcons inspired to trade up in the first-round to draft another top Alabama Crimson Tide prospect. CBS Sports NFL guru Clark Judge is reporting that the Atlanta Falcons are trying to trade up to select either Dee Milliner or Xavier Rhodes.
Atlanta has good ties with the Crimson Tide, as general manager Thomas Dimitroff spent time alongside Nick Saban while the two were part of a now legendary staff in Cleveland back in 1995. Dimitroff arrived on the scene in Atlanta by making an outrageous trade to move up and take Jones back in 2011, and while he was chastised at the time, the defense was wait and see if it works out.
It worked out.
The Falcons have a glaring need at right cornerback and the 30th overall pick isn’t the place to grab a top prospect. Atlanta is in a unique position in that they have a chance to get richer without having to feel bad about trading draft picks. The team is built to win now and they have little need for draft picks to load up the practice squad with.
Dimitroff hit it out of the park with Julio Jones, so he has he faith of those watching that he’ll do the right thing. But the question is can Dimitroff pull of the same trick twice and come out on top?