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Falcons Add Depth at Linebacker With Dent

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have added depth at linebacker with only their second pick in the NFL draft.

The Falcons had to be patient after moving up 21 spots to No. 6 overall and drafting Alabama receiver Julio Jones in the first round. After waiting 85 picks, Atlanta picked Georgia linebacker Akeem Dent in the third round on Friday night.

Dent provides insurance for the Falcons, who have Stephen Nicholas and 34-year-old Mike Peterson as free agents.

Dent (6-1, 233) led Georgia with 126 tackles and had 2½ sacks as a senior.

Dent started 29 games at Georgia, playing both outside and inside. He was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference pick as a senior.

Analysis: Falcons, Jags Trades Spice Up NFL Draft

NEW YORK (AP) — An unusual NFL draft, some unusual moves.

The Atlanta Falcons made perhaps the boldest maneuver in the first round of Thursday night’s draft, acquiring the No. 6 overall pick from Cleveland for four picks, including two first-rounders, and choosing Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.

They hope he will complement All-Pro Roddy White and give Matt Ryan another game-breaking threat.

Four picks later, the traded up six spots with Washington, and went for Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert at No. 10. They also gave up their second-rounder this year.

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the No. 1 overall pick by the , but two other QBs were surprise top-12 picks — Jake Locker at No. 8 by the and Christian Ponder at No. 12 by the .

The draft began hours after a federal judge declared the NFL lockout illegal, and the league said players could report to team headquarters beginning Friday.

Falcons GM Dimitroff Aims for ‘Normal Draft’

ATLANTA (AP) — Thomas Dimitroff is determined to make this a normal NFL draft.

Lockout? No lockout? Dimitroff insists the league’s labor unrest won’t be a factor when he leads his fourth draft as the Falcons’ general manager. Atlanta has the No. 27 overall selection in the first round on Thursday night.

Dimitroff concedes it has been an unusual offseason. He can’t negotiate with free agents, and he says “much uncertainty” remains about what will follow the three-day NFL draft.

He says it is more important than ever to make sure this is “like any normal draft” for the Falcons, who are coming off a 13-win season.

Dimitroff says he’s looking for explosive players. Defensive end is a top need. The Falcons might look for a wide receiver early in the draft.