Another 8th round draft pick. Pete and John have hit on a number of 8th rounders. George Fant was an 8th rounder. IIRC, Doug Baldwin was an 8th rounder.
By this I just mean that Pete and John approach UDFA and waiver wire acquisitions like additional rounds of the draft. I know they do this year round, it just stands out now because of the proximity to the draft. We didn't get enough DB prospects to compete in the draft? No prob, let's hit the waiver wire.
I remember the rationale the team used to justify the Harvin trade a few years back, that he was a 1st round talent, so trading a low 1st round pick for him was just like getting him as a draft choice.
I'm sure this 8th round concept has long been obvious to everyone but me for years, and it's only standing out now because it's so close to the draft.
Marcus Burley was a really good get for us a few years back. Not really an 8th round concept, I think we traded a late round pick for a player the other team was going to waive.
Anyway, if we say the Hawks scouting organization put a 5th round grade on this kid, it's nice to get him with an 8th round pick. Thinking about it though, it's Dan Quinn's staff that is giving up on him, or maybe not giving up, but rather hoping he'll sneak through waivers, and the Hawks' spy network noticed and snatched him up. Did Quinn decide he'll never make it in a Seahawks-style defense, or did we catch the Falcons trying to sneak a player thru to their PS?
EDIT: OOPS. We got him from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quinn & Co released him as a preseason cut.