Braves offer Falcons draft advice

[HMFFL]

With the Falcons holding the No. 3 pick in Saturday's NFL draft, we asked some local athletes just what they think the Falcons should do.

CHIPPER JONES, Braves third baseman: "The lineman from Michigan, [Jake] Long. If he's not available, then I'd take [Matt] Ryan. I'm not entirely [sold on Ryan]; I'm one of those guys who likes to build from the line up. But if Long goes 1 or 2, the next-best available player is probably Ryan. You get a big offensive lineman, you can slow down the pass rush and help the running game. But if he's not there, you've got to go for a skill player."

CHARLES HOWELL III, PGA Tour golfer: "I've been a Falcons fan for a long time and it's sad to see what's happened to that organization. It's a tough call. I honestly would take Darren McFadden, if he were available. He's too good of a player to pass up. I wouldn't trade the pick."

JEFF FRANCOEUR, Braves rightfielder: "Either Matt Ryan, if they're going to make him the man of the future, or Glenn Dorsey. You have to have an impact player, and to me the Falcons' two areas where you can have an impact are defensive line or quarterback."

KELLY JOHNSON, Braves second baseman: "I think they're fine at running back; that's not an issue. And history has shown if you've got a good quarterback it's not necessarily going to improve the team. I would go for an offensive or defensive lineman. If Chris Long is not available, then the best available offensive lineman, if he's not a stretch [to pick] at 7, I would get him at 3."

Compiled by staff writers Stan Awtrey and David O'Brien.

Link