When the Falcons took outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon with the nineteenth overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, it was a move deemed to help in the future.

More than likely, Falcons head coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff looked at tape of the teams 2009 season back in February and deemed that their pass coverage was the weakest part of their defense. So when free agency rolled around in March, they made their first big splash with signing cornerback Dunta Robinson. Robinson would bring a swagger to the defense and secondary that was sorely lacking, and provide the team with a cover man that can go up against the Steve Smiths, Larry Fitzgeralds, Marques Colstons, and Greg Jennings that they would face in the 2010 season.

But the Falcons did not stop there, and many expected them to target one of the premier pass rushers when the draft rolled around in April to help improve a meager pass defense. When Brandon Graham, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Derrick Morgan went off the board only minutes before the Falcons were set to pick, many fans panicked. But the Falcons brass did not because Weatherspoon was still available.

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Originally reported by Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, the team later confirms that an agreement has been reached on a five-year deal with top pick linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon marked the last of the teams’ seven draft picks to sign. His signing a deal means that he will not be considered a holdout when the Falcons open training camp practices tomorrow morning.

UPDATE: Adam Schefter of ESPN tweets that Weatherspoon’s deal includes $10.4 million guaranteed and worth a maximum value of $17.4 million.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC reports that progress has been made in the negotiations between the Falcons and top draft pick Sean Weatherspoon. Per Ledbetter, it’s possible that with a “push” tomorrow morning, Weatherspoon could be signed in time to report on time with the rest of the team for  team meetings on Thursday evening. However, the Falcons don’t hold their first practice until Friday morning at 8:30 AM, giving the team a bit more time to finalize a deal.

As of Wednesday night, only two other first round picks had been signed elsewhere in the league: 24th overall pick Dez Bryant and 27th overall pick Devin McCourty. Weatherspoon was the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

The Falcons have not had a prolonged rookie holdout under the Smith-Dimitroff regime. 2008 first round pick Sam Baker did miss part of the team’s first practice due to the league working to approve his contract, while fellow ’08 top pick Matt Ryan and ’09 first rounder Peria Jerry were signed on time. 2007 top pick Jamaal Anderson also missed part of his first practice with the team in training camp. The Falcons haven’t had a prolonged holdout from a top pick since Roddy White nearly missed the entire first week of training camp in 2005.

Sean Weatherspoon

The brunt of the camp conflict at this position will come from Falcons top pick Sean Weatherspoon.

The Falcons drafted Weatherspoon to be an upgrade in speed and coverage abilities on defense. Thus far, they have cross-trained him at both outside spots, but it remains to be seen which position he will primarily play at this summer.

It would seem that strongside linebacker Stephen Nicholas is the likeliest of the starting trio to lose his spot in the starting lineup. Nicholas is a capable blitzer and able run defender, but is a liability in coverage. But at the same time, throughout last year weakside linebacker Mike Peterson also struggled in coverage. Peterson got off to a fast start last season but his played tailed off after the first month. One presumes that Weatherspoon is considered the long-term option to replace Peterson, so it would make sense if the Falcons tried to have him push there immediately, rather than facing the potential of shuffling the linebackers down the road.

There is also the possibility that Weatherspoon could become the starting weakside linebacker, and the team move Peterson to the strongside. But regardless of how the team shuffles the linebacker position, it must start with Weatherspoon having a strong summer. But his draft status gives him a leg up in competition. The Falcons haven’t had a first round pick not start the season opener under MIke Smith and Thomas Dimitroff.

Curtis Lofton is locked in the middle, and the team will be looking to see him make some improvements in coverage this summer.

Coy Wire may lose his status as the top reserve to either Weatherspoon, or whichever incumbent starter is benched. But he still has a firm grasp on a roster spot. He can play all three positions and is a valuable special teams performer.

Because of the versatility of Wire, Weatherspoon, and Peterson, the Falcons presumably can get away with keeping six linebackers on the roster. But normally 4-3 teams keep seven. So that means that there should be two more roster positions left available. The front runner for one of those spots would appear to be Spencer Adkins. Adkins only appeared in five games last year, but the team is looking to see him make further strides this summer. Also in the mix is Robert James, but due to a four-game suspension to open the regular season, he’ll have to have a really strong showing this summer for the team to keep him on. That looming suspension opens greater opportunities for undrafted rookies like Weston Johnson and Bear Woods. Both players will have to shine on special teams, as well as make some impact plays defensively in the preseason.

The Falcons announced that linebacker Robert James will be suspended for the first four games of the 2010 regular season due to violation of the league’s substance abuse policy due to performance enhancers. James will remain eligible to participate in the Falcons preseason and training camp activities.

James was a fifth round pick for the Falcons in 2008. He sat out his rookie season with a head injury. He spent most of last season on the Falcons practice squad, but was promoted to the active roster for the season finale and appeared in that game.

He is the second Falcon player to be suspended for the beginning of the season. Guard Quinn Ojinnaka will also be suspended for the season opener due to a May 2009 battery incident against his wife.

No word on whether the suspensions will impact either players’ ability to make the teams’ final roster. The addition of top pick Sean Weatherspoon coupled with his suspension could impact his ability to make a reserve spot. Ojinnaka will also be competed with rookies Mike Johnson and Joe Hawley for a reserve guard position.

Now that I’ve had a day to let the draft sink in, everybody wants to start grading drafts. Well, here are mine:

1/19. LB Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
This pick didn’t have me jumping for joy, maybe because I expected it the minute Brandon Graham was snatched up by the Eagles. Perhaps I had set myself up to think we were going to fix our defensive end position with this pick. But that shouldn’t mean I’m disappointed with this pick at all. Weatherspoon is going to be a fixture on our defenses for years to come with the potential to make multiple Pro Bowls. He fits very well in our defense, with his speed, range, and his eagerness to hit. He has good coverage ability that means he’ll be able to cover tight ends like Kellen Winslow and backs like Reggie Bush in our division. His intensity and fierceness make him a near perfect match to put alongside Curtis Lofton. The only real question is just how soon will the Falcons try to reap the benefits of this selection. Weatherspoon is a natural weakside linebacker, and will be miscast on the strongside. The Falcons could move Peterson to the strongside where he played a bit in Jacksonville to try and put their best three linebackers on the field at once. Or they could keep Nicholas in the lineup, and instead trying to bring along Spoon a bit more slowly, incorporating him in subpackages, particularly on passing downs. It really doesn’t matter to me, either way I think Spoon will begin to make his presence known as a rookie. And he’ll almost certainly be the starter in 2011 regardless of what happens next year. GRADE: A

3/83. DT Corey Peters, Kentucky
Dimitroff indicated the team really wanted to address their depth at defensive tackle, and basically “reached” on Peters because they felt that he wasn’t going to be available later in the draft. I buy that, and I can understand why the Falcons liked Peters more than other defensive tackle prospects that were available. He has a good motor, is a capable pass rusher, and should fit nicely in our rotation behind our starters. I don’t really see starting potential with him, and in the middle of the third round you prefer to get guys that can start down the road. But Peters will definitely contribute even if it’s not as a starter. He should be the top tackle off the bench no later than 2011. GRADE: C+

3/98. OG Mike Johnson, Alabama
This pick really appears like the real coup of the Falcons draft. Johnson has Alan Faneca-like ability as a left guard. Johnson is one of the top run blockers in the entire class, and should be able to compete right off the start for a starting job at left guard. His ability to clear running lanes is exactly what the Falcons need at left guard, since Sam Baker is not exactly a road-grader. Johnson’s ability there will help offset that lacking ability from Baker, and allow the Falcons to be more productive running to the left. Johnson’s major weakness is that he’s inconsistent in pass protection. But Faneca has been the same way throughout much of his later career, but like Faneca he can also potentially be a fill-in at tackle as well, although his best position is left guard. Even if Johnson doesn’t unseat Blalock this summer, it’s highly likely that he’ll slide in as the starter in 2011 with Blalock headed to free agency. GRADE: A+

4/117. OC Joe Hawley, UNLV
I don’t know enough about Hawley to really have a strong opinion on this pick. He’s a center that can also play guard, a position he played more during his career than at center. But if he’s a physical player, and almost every thing I read suggests he is, he could be a nice developmental center. Basically he could be another Brett Romberg, and has a chance to be the heir apparent to Todd McClure at center at some point in the next year or two. He is not Alex Mack, but you don’t have to be in order to be a starting NFL center. GRADE: B

5/135. CB Dominique Franks, Oklahoma
Franks entered this draft early because the NFL draft advisory board probably told him he would be a second round pick back in January. Well they were obviously wrong, because he fell. But he could be a potential steal. Franks isn’t great, but is a solid corner that should definitely be able to compete for a starting job in the near future. For now, he’ll probably push Grimes and Owens for the nickel job, but with his size he could leapfrog both as the heir apparent to Brian Williams as the starter in 2011 and beyond. At the very least, he should add depth if not becoming a serviceable starter down the road. GRADE: B+

5/165. WR Kerry Meier, Kansas
Meier is a player you like when you watch him play. He has good hands, nice size, and does a good job moving the chains in Kansas wide-open spread attack. He was very productive, but I’m not convinced he’ll be a factor on offense at the NFL level because of a lack of burst and speed. He’s targeted to fill the role that Brian Finneran holds on the team, and his first duties will be on special teams. He’s a guy that I think could bulk up and work as a wideout/H-back, a role that Finneran filled for much of last season before he got hurt. GRADE: C

6/171. S Shann Schillinger, Montana
Schillinger was drafted to fill depth and will push Matt Giordano as the reserve free safety and special teams. Again, don’t know much about him, but I’m at least hopeful that there’s a chance he can be developed somewhat and fill the role as a reserve safety that Erik Coleman is expected to fill this year. If he can be a stud special teams player and a capable reserve a few years down the road, then this is a solid pick. GRADE: B-

OVERALL GRADE: B

This draft will largely be judged down the road on how good of NFL players Weatherspoon and Johnson will be. Both have Pro Bowl potential, and if they develop into that then no one is really going to care about the rest of this class. If Peters also develops into a solid No. 3 defensive tackle, Hawley is a competent starter, and Franks, Meier, and Schillinger can contribute off the bench, then that only makes this draft class stronger.

LB Sean Weatherspoon

With their top selection, the 19th overall pick, the Falcons took Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon was highly rated as the top outside linebacker in this year’s draft. He will re-join former Tiger teammate William Moore on the Falcons defense. He was one of the few prospects that the Falcons reportedly worked out twice in the off-season, as the Falcons showed a lot of interest in him from the start.

You can read a scouting profile on Weatherspoon by clicking here.

Sean Weatherspoon

Ed Thompson of Scout.com reports that Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has another meeting set with the Falcons, scheduled for April 7. The Falcons already conducted an on-campus workout with Weatherspoon on March 17.

Although not specified in Thompson’s report, it appears likely that this second workout will be conducted in Atlanta and likely will be more in-depth than the previous meeting.

Aaron Wilson of National Football Post reports that Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is scheduled for a private workout for the Falcons this Wednesday on March 17 in Columbia, Missouri.

The Falcons were on hand to see Weatherspoon at his pro day earlier this month. Weatherspoon has been a fairly popular pick in mock drafts as a selection for the Falcons with their first round pick.

Click here to read a scouting report on Sean Weatherspoon.

Sean Weatherspoon

Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, a prospect the Falcons showed interest in during last week’s Scouting Combine, worked out today at the University of Missouri’s pro day, and had an impressive work out according to several sources. The Falcons were on hand, as a representative of the team timed him 4.48 in his 40-yard dash, per a report by Dave Matter of the Columbia Daily Tribune. Other reports, including from NFL.com’s Gil Brandt and from ShowMeMizzou.com had Weatherspoon clocked as fast as 4.43 and as “slow” as 4.53.

Weatherspoon also did 35 bench reps of 225 pounds, one more than he did last week at the Combine, matching the top total of that week. Weatherspoon measures 6’1″ 239 pounds and indicated high interest in the Falcons per the reports. To ShowMeMizzou.com, he indicated he would like to play for the Falcons due to the presence of players like Curtis Lofton and former Tiger teammate William Moore. Weatherspoon indicated that he has strong feelings about the Falcons or Saints being potential destinations for him in the first round of the draft.

Other Tigers that worked out included defensive tackle Jaron Baston and defensive end Brian Coulter, who were not invited to the Combine. Baston measured 6’1″ and weighed 304 pounds, ran a 40 in the 5.0-5.29 range and did 26 bench reps. Baston indicated that he could bulk up to play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense which is where most interest has come for him. Coulter measured 6’3″ 251 and had 40s of 5.02 with 15 bench reps, and a 32-inch vertical leap.