The Atlanta Falcons have drafted 585 players since entering the NFL in 1966. Here's a look at their best draft picks by position.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Matt Ryan, first round, 2008, Boston College. Ryan, the third overall pick, was known for his accuracy and didn't disappoint as he made an immediate impact in the league and eventually evolved into an MVP. He holds 20 franchise records. Michael Vick might go down as the franchise’s most exciting QB, but Vick never made it to a Super Bowl and wasn’t known for his passing.
Running back: Gerald Riggs, first round, 1982, Arizona State. Riggs is the Falcons’ all-time leading rusher with 6,631 rushing yards and was a three-time Pro Bowler in seven seasons with the team. Riggs made the Falcons’ Ring of Honor in 2013, symbolic of what type of impact he made on the franchise.
Wide receiver: Julio Jones, first round, 2011, Alabama. He is arguably the most dangerous threat in the game right now. Jones in on pace to surpass Roddy White as the franchise's all-time leading receiver. And Jones has more than 7,000 career receiving yards despite missing almost all of the 2013 season with a fractured foot and being nagged by various injuries.
Tight end: Alge Crumpler, second round, 2001, North Carolina. Crumpler made it to four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2003 to '06. He had 40-plus catches in five of his seven seasons with the Falcons. He had three 49-plus-yard touchdown receptions among his 35 touchdowns as a Falcon.
Tackle: Mike Kenn, first round, 1978, Michigan. Kenn, who has been a Hall of Fame semifinalist, is the franchise record-holder with 251 games played and started. Kenn, who played 17 seasons with the Falcons, was named to five Pro Bowls and named to the All-Pro first or second team five times.
Guard: Bill Fralic, first round, 1985, Pittsburgh. Fralic was named an All-Pro in 1986 and 1987 and earned four Pro-Bowl selections during his eight seasons with the Falcons. Fralic also was known for speaking out against steroid use.
Center: Jeff Van Note, 11th round, 1986, Kentucky. The former college linebacker made the transition to the offensive line and ended up playing a team-record 18 NFL seasons. Van Note, a six-time Pro Bowler, played in 155 consecutive games, which is also a team record.
DEFENSE
End: Claude Humphrey, first round, 1968, Tennessee State. Humphrey was part of the NFL Hall of Fame class of 2014. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in sacks with 94.5. Humphrey was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year and selected to six Pro Bowls during his time with the Falcons.
Tackle: Tony Casillas, first round, 1986, Oklahoma. Casillas, a nose tackle, was a second-team All-Pro selection in 1989. He made the league’s all-rookie team and then suffered a leg injury the next season. The year before his breakout season in '89, when Casillas had 152 tackles and two sacks, he left training camp after being overwhelmed by the stress of playing in the NFL.
Linebacker: Tommy Nobis, first round, 1966, Texas. Nobis, known as "Mr. Falcon," was the team's first-ever draft pick. He was the NFL Rookie of the Year, a first-team All-Pro in 1967, and the first Falcon voted to the Pro Bowl. Jessie Tuggle, the guy they call "The Hammer" and the franchise’s all-time leader in total tackles with 2,065, was undrafted.
Cornerback: Deion Sanders, first round, 1989, Florida State. The Hall of Famer not only was known for his ability to shut down opposing receivers, but "Prime Time" also doubled as one of the most dangerous kick returners around. Sanders had 24 interceptions in five seasons with the Falcons.
Safety: Scott Case, second round, 1984, Oklahoma. The hard-hitting strong safety was named a second-team All-Pro during the 1988 season, although he played right cornerback that year. Case also played free safety after a coaching change. He still holds the team’s single-season record with 10 interceptions (1988).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Nick Mike-Mayer, 10th round, 1973, Temple. The soccer-style kicker made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Mike-Mayer made 26 of 38 field goals and all of his extra point attempts.
Punter: Matt Bosher, sixth round, 2011, Miami. Bosher has been the Falcons’ punter for the past six seasons. He has a career net average of 41.2 yards per punt and has placed 147 of 367 punts inside the 20.