The Falcons are in a rather unfortunate position.
The good? They won the NFC South again this past season, shaking their greasy playoff monkey while then moving on to finish a meager few points away from a Super Bowl appearance. They also have Tony Gonzalez — one of most productive tight ends in league history, and also maybe one of the most productive vegans in league history — coming back for one more season.
The bad? Well, that bit about Gonzo likely and almost definitely being done after 2013, and needing to replace his historical production. Oh, there’s also the departures of Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson, two key cornerbacks for a team in a division where stopping Drew Brees and Cam Newton is something that has to happen four times a year.
The problem? The NFL does this funny thing where losers are given a chance to improve themselves in a timely manner with a high draft pick. Conversely, winners have far lower draft picks, and with the Falcons at 30th overall, the truly elite prospects at either cornerback or tight end could be long gone by that point.
Brace for it. I can hear the trade rumors rumbling in the distance.
