When Thomas Dimitroff took the Falcons general manager job last year, he was given the job of rebuilding one of the league's worst rosters. So we knew that Dimitroff would be making some serious changes.But it's pretty impressive how much of a turnover he's given the team so fast. As Dimitroff comes out of his second draft, nealy half of the Falcons projected starters this season will be players that he has brought in since taking over the team. That's 10 starters in two years.
But it's also a sign of how Dimitroff has built this roster that the 2009 draft won't be relied on to provide starters nearly as quickly as the 2008 draft. Last year, first-rounders Sam Baker and Matt Ryan and second-round pick Curtis Lofton all became immediate starters.
This year, first-round pick Peria Jerry will likely start right away, but there is a chance that Trey Lewis could hold him off as a starter for a little while. Second-round pick William Moore will have a good chance to start at strong safety, but again, he will actually have to earn the job. And the rest of the Falcons' draft picks are more useful for depth as rookies then immediate help. That's what you expect for a team that was drafting 24th in the first round instead of third.
That's a sign of how far the Falcons have come so quickly. Dimitroff has the team on the right track for the long term, which means Atlanta should have a lot more seasons picking in the back end of the first round in years to come, which is a good problem to have.
