In his first draft as general manager of the Falcons, Thomas Dimitroff set the team up for over a decade of success by selecting QB Matt Ryan.
Now facing a similar situation, new Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot faces a similar question, how to find a draft pick in the top five that leaves a legacy with the Falcons.
While the situations aren't identical, and the Falcons need at QB in 2008 was different than it is now, there are still many scenarios and mock drafts that do have the Falcons taking a QB this year.
While Dimitroff was fired in the middle of the 2020 season, he still has a unique knowledge of the Falcons' depth chart, needs, and has an insider's view of what would be best for the team's future with the fourth-overall pick.
Former Falcons GM Thomas Dimtroff joined The Rich Eisen Show on Monday and explained what he would look to do with the fourth-overall pick this year.
"This is not me answering for the Atlanta Falcons, but me right now, as I look at this, I think it is a very important time to seriously consider the QB position," says Dimitroff. "You claim as an organization to not want to be back in the top five for many years and this opportunity doesn’t come around too soon (but for trading up 20 spots), so you have to really seriously look at it, even having Matt there. And I think Matt could be a massive important positive to have Matt and another QB there working together for years to come."
Dimitroff also lays out which of the possibly-available quarterbacks most pique his interest.
"These guys (Jones, Lance, and Fields) are all interesting, a really cool hometown element to Justin Fields of course," Dimitroff said. "A lot of interesting parts to his game, his movement, his athleticism, what he can do on the field, and presence. I’m going to be really interested to see how he falls into place, he’s a guy that’s really interesting."
It's quite interesting considering his relationship with Ryan that Dimitroff would suggest finding his replacement, but it might be that time for the Falcons.
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