Jan 20, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith talks to defensive end John Abraham (55) during the second quarter of the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Fans who were hoping  for a John Abraham-Atlanta Falcons reunion of sorts shouldn’t prolong their torment any longer. Sources have said that John will be taking his talents to Tennessee for 2013-14 season. Many fans may be disappointed, but shouldn’t be surprised with his decision. John Abraham was cut before he was due a 5.75 million payday for the upcoming season, and that may have left a bitter taste in his mouth and played a part in him not returning. He put out a tweet as a response to those dismayed by his choice

https://twitter.com/johnabraham55/status/331489815512092673

John Abraham may not have liked the way things ended in Atlanta, but I appreciate him for everything he’s done. It was fun to watch him terrorize QB’s in his prime, and I wish him much success in Tennessee.

Could 6’6, 350 pound NT Kwame Geathers be Dimitroff’s next pick?

The Atlanta Falcons first two selections didn’t surprise me, even though I lobbied against selecting Desmond Trufant for weeks leading up to the start of the draft. At the end of the day, I do trust GM Thomas Dimitroff to make the right decision for the team. We needed two or three corners, we drafted two very talented ones in the first two rounds.

Now it’s time to change the focus…

There is still plenty of value to be had in the later rounds. But, I think defensive line should be the focus of the two 4th round picks. We now have 4 solid starting-caliber CB’s on the roster (Samuel, McClain, Trufant, Alford), so we can afford to bolster the front-line of the defense for at least 2-3 picks. There are two HUGE prospects that I have my eye on, and if the Falcons can get both (It’s definitely a possibility) I would have so much confidence in the defense going into the season.

I’m sure many fans remember the problems D-block had with stopping runs up the middle. Atlanta’s D-line was FAR too thin at tackle and it showed in just about every game this season. I heard that this was to Mike Smith’s preference. I guess he was trying to build a line similar to Detroit’s were you have to explosive DT’s in the middle to disrupt and get in the quarterback’s face. Well, that approach hasn’t worked, so I think it’s time for a change. We need someone with size and strength, two anchors that can’t be moved on run downs and keeps guards from getting to the second level.

Kwame Geathers and TJ Barnes are two players I have my eye on in the draft. Both are very raw, but if they go to a team with a good coach that can help them work on their technique, they could be the sequel to John Henderson/Marcus Stroud. Guess who the Jags D-line coach was when those two were wreaking havoc?….Mike Smith. I think Mike Smith could help to add some polish to their game, because both are FAR (and I mean FAR) from the finished product that John and Marcus were coming out of college, but the athleticism, size, and length is there. They could be situational players coming in (due to their conditioning), but could develop into full-time starters within 2 years.

With that being said, it’s hard to predict which way Dimitroff will go when it comes to the draft, so the likelihood that he double-dips at DT with the next two picks is slim. He may look at a linebacker or two, but in my opinion the D-line can’t be ignored any longer. I hope TD has his eye on at least one of the two DT’s I mentioned.

Is Milliner worth trading up for?

The rumor mill continues to pick up steam as we get closer to the draft.

While I expressed my opinion of why Atlanta should move up in the draft to select an elite defensive prospect in the first edition of ‘Dirty Bird Debate’, I’m beginning to open up to the option of trading down.

Thomas Dimitroff spoke at a pre-draft press conference about how comfortable he feels going in with 11 draft picks at his disposal.

To have a full draft this year is good,” Dimitroff said. “It feels good. It feels solid. It feels like we’re going in with leverage. … We did what we did in free agency and re-signed people as well as having 11 picks, it’s a comforting feeling. At 30, the ability to move up and down is important for us.

What seems to be on fans mind now is if Dimitroff does decide to trade up, how far up will he go? I recently stated that Atlanta could maybe go as high as the Jets pick at number 9, but CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason LaCanfora has reported that the Falcons are very high on Dee Milliner and the coveted Oregon LB/DE Dion Jordan; Two prospects who many predict won’t make it past the #5 pick.

Fans and analysts alike still think CB is of utmost importance for Atlanta, and it makes sense. We’ve lost both Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes in free agency, and our best starter, Asante Samuel, is 33 years-old. But, if you let a QB stand in the pocket long enough, he will eventually find an open receiver. A terrible pass rush will make the best CB’s look terrible. Now many would agree that Dee Millner is a fantastic prospect with some “lock-down” potential, but is it worth investing multiple picks to trade up for a CB? Trading up to the top 5 will cost, and doing that may cost us a good lineman in the 2nd/3rd rounds. Jamar Taylor isn’t that much worse than Milliner in my opinion, and many have him going in the second-round.

Dion Jordan may be the most coveted defensive player in this draft. At 6’7, 245 pounds, his athleticism is off the charts. While he’s very raw in his technique, he has unlimited potential/upside. He would fit perfectly in today’s NFL if he develops; However, he could turn out to be another Aaron Maybin/Jarvis Moss/Manny Lawson. It’s hard to predict if he would make an immediate impact, but it will be hard for teams to disregard a player with a skill-set like his. Even though many have the Jags taking him at #2, the best scenero for him would be to go to a team with a rock-solid foundation like Atlanta. He won’t have to come in and be the star right away, and Mike Nolan could work with him and put him in favorable situations. The only problem is that I think we lack the leverage to move up to the top 5 IF he falls past the Jags (Highly unlikely). Besides, Dion isn’t even the best at his position in the draft.

Jarvis Jones is THE most underrated prospect in this draft. Forget the terrible 40-time, the tape does not lie. When I watch film on him, I see a player that can make an immediate impact in the pass-rush department; Violent, relentless, and elite explosiveness along with polish. He has fallen on draft boards due to his spinal complications and supposed lack of work ethic, but who knows what can happen if drafted to a winning environment. Plus, he’s been medically cleared by all doctors and he seems like the most realistic option, so I hope Atlanta is looking into it. Dimitroff should also take a look at Star Lotulelei, seeing as how NT is one of our biggest needs right now.

As far as trading up, I feel it’s either Jarvis Jones/Star Lotulelei or bust. I know many are disappointed by the fact that I don’t think Dee Milliner is worth trading up for. Milliner a great CB prospect, but he’s not as good as Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne, nor Janoris Jenkins were when they came out of college. This CB class is thin at the top but extremely deep, probably the deepest I’ve ever seen. We would be better off trading down if Atlanta is looking for a corner with the first pick. Outside of Milliner and maybe Xavier Rhodes, no corner is even worth using a first-rounder on.

*Quote courtesy of AtlantaFalcons.com