A good NFL draft can put any organization back on track, but there are a few times that one year's draft has so much impact that it changes the entire trajectory for a franchise. ESPN's Aaron Schatz decided, as an ode to the 30th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Steelers' vaunted 1974 draft, to rank 12 of the best drafts from the 21st century. The Atlanta Falcons and their transformational 2008 draft ranked fourth-best and brought on the most successful era of Falcons football to date.
- Round 1, pick 3: QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
- Round 1, pick 21: OT Sam Baker, USC
- Round 2, pick 37: LB Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma
- Round 3, pick 68: DB Chevis Jackson, LSU
- Round 3, pick 84: WR Harry Douglas, Louisville
- Round 3, pick 98: Thomas Decoud, Cal
- Round 5, pick 138: LB Robert James, Arizona State
- Round 5, pick 154: LB Kroy Biermann, Montana
- Round 6, pick 172: RB Thomas Brown, Georgia
- Round 7, pick 212: DB Wilrey Fontenot, Arizona
- Round 7, pick 232: TE Keith Zinger, LSU
This one is a bit top-heavy, led by the recently retired Matt Ryan, the most valuable player in Falcons history. He spent 14 years as their starting quarterback and was the league MVP in 2016. With a second first-round pick, the Falcons selected offensive lineman Sam Baker, who started three seasons and parts of a couple of others as Atlanta's left tackle. Second-round pick Curtis Lofton immediately became the Falcons' middle linebacker and started four seasons for them, then three for the Saints and one for the Raiders.
In the third round, the Falcons took safety Thomas DeCoud, a six-year starter for two teams who made the Pro Bowl once for Atlanta, and slot receiver Harry Douglas, who had more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2013. Finally, the fifth round brought edge rusher Kroy Biermann, a rotational player who started most of 2010 and 2014.
The year before was one of the worst that Falcons fans had seen to that point. Star quarterback Mike Vick was arrested that off-season, head coach Bobby Petrino left after 13 games and Atlanta was left in ruin.
Armed with new head coach Mike Smith, new quarterback Matt Ryan and new receiver Harry Douglas, Atlanta began a 14-year stint that involved seven playoff berths, three division titles and a conference championship.
Not a bad start for then-general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
