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Atlanta Falcons: Grading the past four first-round draft picks

By Freddie Boston

Aug 8, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) walks through the tunnel before their game against the Miami Dolphins at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) walks through the tunnel before their game against the Miami Dolphins at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 27, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Atlanta won 39-28. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Atlanta won 39-28. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

2011: WR Julio Jones

To land Julio Jones, Dimitroff had to send the house. The Falcons traded away their first-round pick (No. 27), second-round pick (No. 59) and fourth-round pick (No. 124), while also giving away their 2012 first-rounder and fourth-rounder. And this was all for a wide receiver. Talk about taking a huge gamble.

But it paid off. In Jones, the Falcons have one of the league’s best receivers. In five years, Jones has put up 6,201 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns. The biggest worry was when he went down with a foot injury in 2013, wiping out 11 games. Any worries of the injury lingering have been put to bed in the past two seasons with Jones missing just one game of a possible 32. In that time, he’s tallied 3,464 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Right now, Jones and Antonio Brown are the class of the NFL at wide receiver, which justifies the decision to trade up. Maybe the Falcons’ lack of depth at certain positions can be pinned on the picks they gave up, but by doing so they were able to land a star. He’s a game-changer and gives Atlanta a chance every time they take the field.

Grade: A

Next: 2013

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