Falcons War Room: 2010 NFL Draft: First Round Analysis

With the 19th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select.....

Missouri Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon!

So with that selection there was must jubulation throughout Falcons Headquarters at Flowery Branch, Ga.  as they picked whom Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff called "the guy we were targeting all around."

Weatherspoon led the Tigers with 111 tackles last season and was the leader in tackles his last three years at Missouri.  He brings not only depth to a position filled with young talents such as Stephen Nicholas and Curtis Lofton, he will be an asset to an area that plagued the Falcons' 21st ranked defense in 2009: pass rushing.

I can see why they would make this pick once their reported previous choices (Brandon Graham, Maurkice Pouncey) were taken earlier in the first round.  Atlanta will have to contend with great passing offenses such as the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and NFC South Rival the New Orleans Saints.  Weatherspoon has experience chasing down receivers in the spread option offenses he used to face in the Big 12, so he would be of great assistance to a team that struggled to stop teams on 3rd down passing situations last season.

Now the questions remains where the Falcons will go with their remaining picks.  I still believe they can upgrade their offensive line with another Center.  Also, look for Atlanta to obtain a pass catching Tight End with All-Pro Tony Gonzalez in the twilight of his career. 

We will come back with more analysis of all of the Falcons' picks throughout the 2010 NFL Draft!