Thursday, February 21, 2013
Atlanta's RB hunt
By Tim Kavanagh
With the impending divorce from veteran RB Michael Turner, the Atlanta Falcons are going to instantly have a hole to fill on the roster. This is not a new idea; in fact, it's been rumored for some time that they'd be in the market for an RB upgrade this offseason. So who will they target to buttress a stable that will now be led by Jacquizz Rodgers?
Within the NFC South entry in the "Plugging the Holes" series, Vince Verhei examines some of their options:
Vince Verhei
Plugging the Holes: NFC South"There's no savior to be found in free agency, unless you think Rashard Mendenhall or Reggie Bush is capable of getting Atlanta over the hump. It's more likely the team will target this position in the draft. Right now, it appears that only one running back (Alabama's Eddie Lacy) will go in the first round, and he probably will be gone when Atlanta picks at No. 30. Would the Falcons consider trading up to get him? The last time Atlanta traded up in the draft, it got Julio Jones, and that has worked out quite well. Grabbing a new runner isn't Atlanta's top offseason priority, though. The Falcons risk losing important starters to free agency (Sam Baker, William Moore) or retirement (Tony Gonzalez), and keeping those hands on deck is Thomas Dimitroff's most critical task. As the roster stands, though, it's clear that the biggest hole is in the backfield. "
