Falcons pass on Dorsey, take big risk on Matt Ryan

By passing on Glenn Dorsey, the Atlanta Falcons gambled unnecessarily with their first-round pick in Saturday's NFL draft.

The Falcons, who have more holes than a doughnut shop, should have taken Dorsey at No. 3. Dorsey is possibly the best player in the draft. Instead, the Falcons took quarterback Matt Ryan.

The Kansas City Chiefs should be thrilled to get Dorsey at No. 5. Dorsey has versatility, as both a run-stopper and pass rusher, rarely seen in defensive tackles. Getting Dorsey lessens the hit that the Chiefs' defensive line took when Jared Allen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings.

If Ryan does not become a Pro Bowl quarterback, the Falcons goofed. They have just made a huge investment in a young quarterback, and they have put Ryan in a difficult situation. The Falcons' receivers are not very good. Their offensive line is not very good, even though they tried to strengthen it by making a draft-day trade to get tackle Sam Baker with the No. 21 pick. Ryan will take his lumps early in his career, and if he's not mentally tough, he may never fully recover and reach his potential.

We have seen other quarterbacks fail when thrust into similar situations -- David Carr with the Texans and Joey Harrington with the Lions, for example. Ryan may be better than Carr and Harrington. For the Falcons' sake, he'd better be.

It will be interesting to track the careers of Ryan and Joe Flacco, who was taken with the 18th overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens. If Flacco turns out to be a better NFL quarterback than Ryan, the Falcons will really look bad. The Falcons had enough draft picks to do what the Ravens did - make a trade for Flacco. Drafting Dorsey and trading up to get Flacco would have been a better move than taking Ryan at No. 3.

Drafting Ryan will end the talk about Michael Vick returning to the Falcons, should Vick ever return to the NFL. That probably played into the Falcons' thinking. Owner Arthur Blank, new general manager Thomas Dimitroff and rookie head coach Mike Smith want to take the Falcons' franchise in a new direction after the Vick fiasco. You can't blame them for that.

However, just because the Falcons needed a quarterback and wanted to end speculation about Vick didn't mean they had to grab Ryan. Now, the Falcons must make sure they develop Ryan carefully, and both the Falcons' fans and the entire franchise will have to be patient. Quarterback is the most difficult position in the NFL, and the most important. Blank, Dimitroff, and Smith better hope that Ryan is not the next quarterback who disappoints Falcons fans.

how do you pass on Dorsey, and look now Chad henne and brohm are still on the board. McKay should have done this draft. trading 2 2nds for freakin baker?!?!?!

Man this is some BS. this is a horrible draft. atleast with last draft we can blame bad coaching, but with this draft we have to blame bad rookie GM.

I agree, this was a horrible draft for the Falcons. So much for hoping these guys have a clue.We could have taken Dorsey, drafted Brohm and still addressed other needs.

i wish we had McKay.

GeorgiaFan appears to be drunk again. GF we had to move up to get Baker all the offensive linemen were going off the board.

SHUT UP i aint talkin to you. tryna call me out in ABF. I just cant believe we picked Ryan over Dorsey. Baker isnt a bad pick, but we paid to much for him.( pick wise) we deserve a 113 pick atleast.

Yup he's drunk. ^&%1'

Man check the draft value. we deserve around a 113 pick. Man we just gave up to much, plus Matt ryan is not a good QB. i thought we should have gotten a QB later. We really needed Dorsey. we do not have any other DTs, and the good ones are off the board already.

Yep, looks like a ton of teams value Brohm.

who cares about other teams value. look how many teams valued Brady high, and look what he did.

Yeah that happens every year. tyheb

I hope there's some behind the scenes trade we don't know about. Dam Matt Ryan.

Sorry had to have a elite QB and this was the best shot reguardless of what the fans think.

Here is a tissue. :beer:

I will except the decision, but I don't like it. He no where near elite! That's like me saying Matt Staford is elite.
Thanks for tissue cheers. g6wvuymh87

Ryan is nowhere near elite as a college prospect.

Right, thats why he was top ten on everyones board.