FanHouse

It's the move that no mock draft foresaw. There was a lot of talk of the Falcons moving up to snag a quarterback late in the first round, but once they took Matt Ryan, the logical money was on them sitting back and waiting to use their three second-round picks. Instead Atlanta used its surplus of picks to move back into the first round to take offensive tackle Sam Baker.

Depending on which experts you listen to, Baker was predicted to go somewhere between the late first round and the late second round. No one saw him going as early as pick No. 21.

But while the Falcons may get criticized in some parts for reach for Baker, the reality is that he was the last NFL ready tackle left on the board. There was a big dropoff after Baker, so Atlanta decided it couldn't wait to find a protector for new quarterback Matt Ryan. And the cost, two second-round picks and a fourth in exchange for the first, a third and a fifth, wasn't outlandish.

Even though he was projected by many to be a second-rounder, Baker is about as safe a pick as you can find. He may never be an All-Pro, but as a four-year starter as Southern California, he's about as polished as a college player can be. He's faced top flight competition and he could slide into guard if needed.