The Atlanta Falcons are used to focusing on one or two positions in the NFL draft.
Not this year.
After a Super Bowl appearance two years ago and another trip to the playoffs last season Marquis Haynes Jersey , the Falcons are fairly content with their roster.
Oh, sure, they've got needs like every other team.
But nothing that looks too pressing.
"This draft is different than most drafts I've been involved with," said Thomas Dimitroff, entering his second decade as the Falcons' general manager.
"This is an important draft and an interesting draft. There are a number of positions we're looking at, more than other years. Other years, we really homed in on one or two positions."
The Falcons have the No. 26 pick in Thursday night's opening round.
With a lot of attention on quarterbacks such as Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and the past two Heisman Trophy winners, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson, Dimitroff expects some top talent to slip all the way down to Atlanta's spot.
"There's some really legitimate contenders to help our team right away at No. 26 if we stay put," he said. "We'll always be aggressive if we see some interesting impact players who can take us to another level. But hopefully they'll get to 26."
Atlanta follows up over the final two days of the draft with selections in the second (58th overall), third (90th) Michael Roberts Jersey , fourth (126th), sixth (200th) and seventh (244th) rounds. In addition, the Falcons were awarded the final pick (No. 256) as compensation for losing five players in free agency, which means they have a chance to grab the player known as "Mr. Irrelevant."
Here's some things to watch from Atlanta heading into the draft:
BIG NEEDS
The Falcons will be looking for help on the interior of the defensive line after mammoth tackle Dontari Poe signed with NFC South rival Carolina during free agency.
The offensive line could get an upgrade, as well. Even though the Falcons signed guard Brandon Fusco in free agency, they are still looking for players to bolster their blocking around center Alex Mack.
OTHER OPENINGS
The Falcons don't have a fullback on the roster after deciding not to re-sign Derrick Coleman, so look for some help at that position in the later rounds.
Also keep an eye on receiver. If someone such as Alabama's Calvin Ridley becomes available, the Falcons might jump at the chance to land a potential star who could take some of the coverage pressure off Julio Jones.
TEAM EFFORT
Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn have formed an excellent working relationship after somewhat of a forced partnership.
The general manager was hired by the Falcons in 2008 and initially had total control over the draft, but he surrendered some of that power to Quinn when the coach was hired by owner Arthur Blank in 2015.
The arrangement has worked out just fine.
"It's nice for me from an experience standpoint to draft alongside one of the most tenured GMs in the league," Quinn said.
WHEELIN' AND DEALIN'
Dimitroff is always looking to make a deal on draft day.
Last year, the GM sent three picks to the Seahawks in order to move up to No. 26 鈥?the same spot the Falcons have this year 鈥?for UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley, feeling he would be a perfect fit in Quinn's attacking defense.
Dimitroff also traded up to get cornerback Desmond Trufant in 2013, and most notably pulled off a huge deal with Cleveland in 2011 to land Jones Aaron Lynch Jersey , who quickly developed into one of the league's top receivers and a cornerstone of the franchise. The Browns are still regretting that trade.
HITS, MISSES AND BARGAINS
QB Matt Ryan has started all but two games since Dimitroff, in his first draft, made him the No. 3 overall pick in 2008. That remains the most significant selection in franchise history.
CB Jalen Collins, a second-rounder out of LSU in 2015, continually ran afoul of drug-testing rules and wound up playing less than two full seasons for the Falcons, who released him last November after his second suspension.
DT Grady Jarrett has become a force on the defensive front since being picked in the fifth round out of Clemson in 2015. The dynamic RB duo of Devonta Freeman (fourth round, 2014) and Tevin Coleman (third round, 2013) were both bargains. LB De'Vondre Campbell was a fourth-round selection in 2016 who became an immediate starter on defense.
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Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg isn’t sure how many more milestones he has left as he prepares to complete his 15th season in Detroit.
The 37-year-old is eager to find out.
”I hope so,” Zetterberg said after picking up his 954th career point to match Sergei Fedorov for fifth on the franchise list following 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. ”I think this is the one that was kind of in reach. The next big one in my point production, it’ll take a while. So we’ll see.”
Next on the list: Nicklas Lidstrom at 1,142.
Zetterberg earned the secondary assist on Danny DeKeyser’s goal that put Detroit up 5-3 with 9:50 remaining.
In closing a season in which Detroit will miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year, Zetterberg and his teammates finally had something to feel good about.
The Red Wings won on the road for the first time in more than a month by snapping an 0-10-1 skid – their worst since the 1981-82 season.
And they did it with a balanced attack Nick Vigil Jersey , while overcoming a 2-0 first-period deficit.
Though the Red Wings’ offensive production came mostly from their youngster, goalie Jimmy Howard said Zetterberg deserves the credit for being a role model.
”He’s awesome. He’s one of those leaders you can’t say enough about,” said Howard, who stopped 29 shots. ”It doesn’t matter what the situation is, whether we’re in the playoffs or not, he leads by example. And I think that’s what our young guys need right now.”
Anthony Mantha, with his team-leading 24th, scored the go-ahead goal by converting a rebound off a shot he deflected with 3:34 left in the second period.
Dylan Larkin and rookie first-round pick Evgeny Svechnikov had a goal and assist each. Darren Helm, with a short-handed goal, and Andreas Athanasiou also scored for Detroit, which hadn’t won on the road since a 3-2 overtime victory against the New York Rangers 3-2 on Feb. 25.
The NHL’s last-place Sabres endured yet another familiar collapse at home, where they are now assured of finishing with the fewest wins in an 82-game season in franchise history. With an 11-24-5 home record, and one game at Buffalo left Deshaun Watson Jersey , the Sabres can’t match their previous low win total of 13 set in 2012-13.
Rookie Sabres coach Phil Housley blamed the loss on too many lapses.
Jack Eichel simply called it, ”frustrating.”
Added Eichel: ”You’re not going to win hockey games playing like we did.”
Eichel set a single-season career high by scoring his team-leading 25th goal. Ryan O’Reilly also scored, and center Casey Mittelstadt set up Evan Rodrigues‘ goal by winning a faceoff in the third period for his first career assist in his NHL debut.
Selected with the eighth pick in last year’s draft, Mittelstadt signed with Buffalo this week after electing to skip his final three college season at Minnesota.
Sabres goalie Robin Lehner did not return for the start of the third period after sustaining an undisclosed injury. He allowed three goals on 20 shots through two periods. Chad Johnson gave up three goals on 12 shots.
Mantha scored just after a faceoff violation penalty called against Mittelstadt expired. Mantha was allowed to stand alone in front, where he deflected Joe Hicketts‘ shot from the blue line. Lehner got a piece of the shot, though Mantha was still untouched while easily converting the rebound.
Athanasiou’s scored a 1:50 into the third period to put the Red Wings up 4-2 by capping an exceptional series of passes. Niklas Kronwall broke up the left wing and flipped a pass through the middle to Justin Abdelkader, who tapped the puck through his legs in setting up Athanasiou in the slot.
NOTES: Detroit won for the third time in 16 games (3-12-1). … Coming of a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday, the Red Wings 11 combined goals matched the total of their previous five games. … Rather than having the starting goalie lead the Sabres out for pre-game warm-ups, Mittelstadt got the honor in skating out on his own for 20 seconds before being joined by his teammates. The 19-year-old drew applause upon jumping the boards and hitting the ice for his first shift 1:27 into the game.
UP NEXT
Red Wings: Host Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Sabres: At Nashville on Saturday.
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