Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff is not going to come right out and confirm the reports that he’s trying to trade up in the first round of the draft, because general managers never come right out and say what their draft plans are. But Dimitroff isn’t exactly hiding his interest in a trade, either.
Dimitroff pulled off a huge trade in 2011 when he packaged five picks to move up and draft wide receiver Julio Jones, and he said today that his philosophy is if there’s a player in the draft who can make the Falcons a significantly better team, he’s going to do what it takes to add that player.
“If you feel that you want to package picks to go up and get the player that you feel can help the team, well, then you use your draft picks as fodder to go after that player,” Dimitroff said, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Dimitroff isn’t naming any names of specific players he wants, but he is openly discussing the possibility of a trade.
“We’ve been open about it,” Dimitroff said, via ESPN.com. “I think it’s very clear we’re open for big deals if they come across our table and we’re interested.”
There’s been speculation that the Falcons are looking for an offensive playmaker, a cornerback or help on the defensive line. Whatever Dimitroff wants, if there’s a player he wants badly enough, he’ll go get him.