FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot started the Falcons pre-NFL Draft press conference with an opening statement thanking those involved with an arduous, detailed and time-consuming process of evaluating prospects, finishing it with this simple statement.
"We're excited, appreciative, and ready to go make this team better."
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That's the objective heading into this week's three-day NFL Draft, where the Falcons have seven selections including the No. 8 overall pick.
They could use them to trade up or down or all around the draft order. Or they could stand pat and make selections as scheduled. Either way, the Falcons are looking for someone they deem a true impact player.
That's about as specific as Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith were going to get during a league-mandated availability just days before initial picks get made Thursday night.
The NFL Draft is three things: A nationwide sporting obsession, covered like crazy from all angles and completely shrouded in secrecy. In a situation where information is everything, why hand someone any competitive edge? The Falcons weren't going to do that Tuesday afternoon speaking before a camera bank.
"We never want anyone to be able to read this transcript," Fontenot said, "and get any kind of tip on what we're going to do."
There will certainly be some tea leaves read by some extracting insight from Tuesday's availability, but Smith and Fontenot didn't give anything away.
They've spoken to teams about possible trades and will continue to do so leading up to the draft. Well, duh. They've mapped out scenarios and contingency plans for each one, with methods to react and pivot to the unexpected. Obviously. "Best player available" is code for "don't reach for need." Yep.
Information will still swirl, from unnamed sources and nuggets mined from pre-draft pressers across the league. This week is the wildest, with so much out there that is so regularly broadcast that it's impossible to ignore.
"You're going to see stuff. If someone says they don't, it's just not true," Fontenot said. "What you have to do is have the right perspective and understand that it's entertainment and it's cool that everyone is so interested. I don't know how many there are, but there are so many mock drafts. … For us, we have to make sure that we block it out even if we see it and trust our that we're making the right decisions for the right reasons and making sure that we're improving this team."
Trust your research. Trust the homework you've done. Do what you believe is right.
And don't get swayed by smoke.
"I heard the other day that you're working hard [this time of year] to get the desired outcome," Fontenot said. "I was just on the phone with a GM I respect a lot – he's a great man – but he could've been selling me a bill of goods because he's trying to get the best desired outcome for his team. We're trying to do the same thing."
Being able to read well and react appropriately is as important as ever, especially high in Thursday's opening round.
"In my opinion, this is the most uncertain that it has been," Fontenot said. "Really, you just don't know what teams are going to do. You try to feel it out and think about what we anticipate, but there's a lot you can't predict, regardless of what's out there.
"We just have to make sure we talk through as many scenarios as we can so we're comfortable and ready to make a move when we need to. We are excited about the fact that, whether we move up or down or stay at 8, we're going to get a really good player."
Take a look as the Atlanta Falcons put in that work for the 2023 season.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder #4 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Matt Hankins #30 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Jessie Bates does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Bud Dupree does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Darren Hall #34 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter #9 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Mykal Walker #3 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons long snapper Liam McCullough #48 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Joe Gaziano does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #37 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Jessie Bates does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo #7 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder #4 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Detail view of chains being handed off as the team does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Scotty Miller does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Drew Dalman #67 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Parker Hesse #46 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #37 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie #47 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison #62 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
View as Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter and defensive lineman Joe Gaziano do strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tackle Kaleb McGary #76 does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
View of a huddle in front of Ticketmaster Studios as the team does strength and conditioning during phase one at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Monday, April 17, 2023. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
