Atlanta Falcons: Grading All of Thomas Dimitroff’s Draft Class
By Adnan Ikic
Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. Falcons won 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
After the Michael Vick era crashed and burned in the form of an indictment for the former star quarterback on a federal conspiracy charge, which was joined by a devastating 4-12 season in 2007 (while Vick was behind bars), owner Arthur Blank chose to shake things up in the Atlanta Falcons front office. Enter Thomas Dimitroff.
Dimitroff came over from the New England Patriots, where he was the head of scouting operations for one of the most successful organizations in the NFL. Blank handed the keys to the roster over to this man with the cool haircut, and overall its been a good decision: Dimitroff (or TD as he’s called for short) was voted the league’s executive of the year, by Sporting News, a popular sports magazine, twice in his time with the Falcons (in 2008 when Atlanta went 11-5, and in 2010 when Atlanta went 13-3 and earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC).
After six years on the job, TD has developed a nice track record: under him, the Falcons have twice clinched the best record in the NFC and home field advantage (in 2010 and 2012 when they went 13-3 both years), made the playoffs four times, and made it to the NFC championship game in 2012. However, lack of depth has recently reared its ugly head, as the Falcons have gone a combined 6-15 since making it to that championship game.
Drafting well is the hallmark of a good general manager in not just the NFL, but all sports. Let’s take a look at how this former director of college football scouting for the Patriots has fared on draft day, since taking control of the Falcons.