Historic Draft Pics | Top First Round Falcons Picks
Take a walk through Atlanta Falcons history with some of the top Falcons first round draft picks and their rookie seasons including legends like Steve Bartkowski, Michael Vick, Jake Matthews and more.
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 1965, file photo, All-America Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis, left, and Rankin Smith, owner of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League announce Nobis' signing of a contract with the team in Austin, Texas on Dec. 14, 1965. Nobis, the first player ever drafted by Atlanta in 1966 and a hard-hitting linebacker who went on to spent his entire 11-year career with the team, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, after an extended illness, the team announced. He was 74. (AP Photo/File)
University of California quarterback Steve Bartkowski gets set to try on a helmet of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL in Atlanta before flying to New York for the NFL's Pro Football Draft, Jan. 28, 1975. Bartkowski will be the first round pick of the Falcons, who got the No. 1 first round pick in a recent trade with the Baltimore Colts. The Falcons traded their no. 3 picking spot and offensive tackle George Kunz for Baltimore's spot so they could be assured of drafting Bartkowski. (AP Photo/Joe Holloway Jr.)
FILE - In this April 21, 2001, file photo, Michael Vick, right, of Virginia Tech, is presented with a jersey by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue after he was is chosen by the Atlanta Falcons as the No.1 pick at the NFL draft in New York. In the 13 years since his arrival as the fastest man on the field who also happened to have the best arm, Vick's impact has been felt in the way quarterbacks and offenses evolve in high school, college, and eventually, the pros. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick #7 during the game in Atlanta against the Dallas Cowboys on November 11, 2001.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick #7 during the preseason game in Kansas City agasint the Kansas City Chiefs on August 21, 2001.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick #7 during the preseason game in New York against the New York Jets on August 11, 2001. (Photo by Jimmy Cribb)
NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Matt Ryan shakes hands with National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodel after being selected third overall by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2008 NFL Draft on April 26, 2008 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Julio Jones poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Julio Jones poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs into the end zone as Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Ashton Youboty (31) is seen during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) heads for a touchdown on a pass reception as New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Martez Wilson (95) and another Saint defend during the first quarter of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones (11) runs after a catch for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter of Falcons' 31-23 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Jake Matthews answers questions during an NFL news conference at the team's headquarters Friday, May 9, 2014, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Matthews, an offensive lineman from Texas A&M, was the selected 6th overall in Thursday's NFL draft. (AP Photo/Jason Getz)
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Jake Matthews holds his jersey during an NFL news conference at the team's headquarters Friday, May 9, 2014, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Matthews, an offensive lineman from Texas A&M, was the selected 6th overall in Thursday's NFL draft. (AP Photo/Jason Getz)
Atlanta Falcons tackle Jake Matthews (70) works against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons' Jake Matthews (70) tries to block his cousin Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews (52) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, right, holds a team jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Atlanta Falcons selected Pitts with the 4th pick in the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts celebrates after being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2021 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 29, 2021 in Cleveland. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 celebrates after making a catch against the Detroit Lions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 runs down field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, December 5, 2021. (Photo by Kyle Hess/Atlanta Falcons)
Southern California wide receiver Drake London stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth pick of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Southern California wide receiver Drake London, left, and Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL, hold a team jersey after Drake London was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the 8th pick at the 2022 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 catches a pass during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, August 12, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 carries the ball during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, October 2, 2022. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
