This time last year, Falcons linebacker Prince Shembo was preparing for a dream come true, being drafted to play in the National Football League. He shined as an outside linebacker at Notre Dame, finishing his collegiate career ranked seventh in school history with 19.5-career sacks.
When the 2014 NFL Draft came, the Falcons selected Shembo in the fourth round (139th overall), using one of their three available compensatory picks. During his rookie campaign, Shembo was moved to inside linebacker, a position he hadn't played since his freshman year of high school. Entering year two, however, new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn has other plans for the talented linebacker.
"Right now, I see him working back outside," Quinn said. "That's also where I evaluated him coming out of college. I'm looking forward to working with him. There's going to be lots of position flexibility (because we're taking the approach of) 'let's keep trying, keep grinding, keep evaluating to find the very best guys to do it'."
The Falcons used their other compensatory picks last season on linebackers Yawin Smallwood and Tyler Starr, and as the annual NFL owners' meetings are underway in Phoenix (Mar. 22-25), the league is expected to soon announce the compensatory picks for this year's draft.
The Falcons' 2016 roster is constantly evolving and we've amassed all the players in one gallery that will be updated throughout the year
CB Robert Alford
S Ricardo Allen
DT Jonathan Babineaux
OLB Vic Beasley Jr.
P Matt Bosher
K Matt Bryant
LB De'Vondre Campbell
RG Chris Chester
DE Adrian Clayborn
RB Tevin Coleman
CB Jalen Collins - Reserve Suspended List (4 Games)
T Tom Compton
FB Patrick DiMarco
RB Devonta Freeman
DE Dwight Freeney
WR Devin Fuller - IR
G Ben Garland
FS Dashon Goldson
CB C.J. Goodwin
DT Ra'Shede Hageman
WR Justin Hardy
LS Josh Harris
TE Austin Hooper
S Kemal Ishmael
DE Tyson Jackson
DT Grady Jarrett
LB Deion Jones
WR Julio Jones
CB Akeem King - IR
G Andy Levitre
C Alex Mack
T Jake Matthews
S Keanu Neal
TE Josh Perkins
G Mike Person
FS Brian Poole
LB Brooks Reed
LB LaRoy Reynolds
WR Aldrick Robinson
QB Matt Ryan
WR Mohamed Sanu
QB Matt Schaub
T Ryan Schraeder
G Wes Schweitzer
DE Derrick Shelby
TE Jacob Tamme
S Robenson Therezie
TE Levine Toilolo
CB Desmond Trufant
LB Courtney Upshaw
CB DeMarcus Van Dyke - IR
RB Terron Ward
LB Sean Weatherspoon
WR Eric Weems
LB Philip Wheeler
WR Nick Williams
LB Paul Worrilow
The additional draft choices are granted to teams deemed to have lost more or better compensatory free agents than they added in the previous year. Compensatory free agents are determined by the NFL Management Council, using a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors, however, not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by the formula.
Regardless if the Falcons receive any compensatory picks this year or not, the club is approaching the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft with Quinn teaming with general manager Thomas Dimitroff and assistant general manager Scott Pioli, who assumed pro and college scouting and NFL Draft responsibilities in January.
Below is a look at the team's compensatory draft picks since 2008.
2014
Prince Shembo - Fourth-round pick (139th overall)
Yawin Smallwood - Seventh-round pick (253rd overall)
Tyler Starr - Seventh-round pick (255th overall)
2013
Levine Toilolo - Fourth-round pick (133rd overall)
Kemal Ishmael - Seventh-round pick (243rd overall)
Zeke Motta - Seventh-round pick (244th overall)
Sean Renfree - Seventh-round pick (249th overall)
2012
Travian Robertson - Seventh-round pick (249th overall)
2010
Mike Johnson - Third-round pick (98th overall)
Kerry Meier - Fifth-round pick (165th overall)
2008
Thomas Decoud - Third-round pick (98th overall)
