Atlanta Falcons: 5 best draft picks of all time

Dec 20, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) hugs owner Arthur Blank as they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half at EverBank Field. Atlanta Falcons defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) passes the football against the New Orleans Saints during the second quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: Matt Ryan

With the third pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the Atlanta Falcons selected Matt Ryan out of Boston College. Since the first pass he threw he has been the most valuable draft pick the franchise has ever had.

Ryan immediately took a team that had been ravaged by the Michael Vick scandal to the playoffs in 2008. In 2009, he led them to their first ever back-to-back wining seasons. In 2010 and 2012 the Falcons held the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs. He also guided the team to the postseason in 2011 as well.

The last three years have been a step back for Matt Ryan and the Falcons, but he is undoubtedly the best quarterback in franchise history. He may only have one playoff win under his belt, but he does have five winning seasons in his first eight on the job.

Ryan is a three time all-pro and generally considered one of the NFL’s top ten quarterbacks.

In a city who loved Michael Vick, he did as good of a job as anyone could have in replacing him by winning Rookie of the Year. Since then, he’s been winning at such a rate no one can argue he has been the Falcons best draft pick of all time.

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