It wasn't the most speculation-driven trade discussion in NFL history but, for Falcons fans, it sure seemed like it.
After what seemed like months of rumors and negotiations, DeAngelo Hall has agreed on a contract and will be an Oakland Raider next season. That, of course, finalizes a trade between the Birds and the Silver and Black in which Atlanta gets two picks in the NFL Draft.
That's where things changed a little bit at the last minute.
What was widely reported as second- and sixth-round compensation in the 2008 NFL Draft became a second-round pick this year (No. 34 overall) and a fifth-round pick in 2009.
What does this really mean for the Falcons?
Well, on the surface, it gives Atlanta four picks in the first 48 selections (No. 3, No. 34, No. 37 and No. 48). That's four picks on the first day of the Draft -- the most of any team.
By comparison, most teams only have two picks on day one. Cleveland doesn't have any picks until the third round and only two teams have three in rounds one and two (Dallas and Miami).
So what do you do with that many picks? You can trade back into the first round for one.
Cleveland, in part, used a third-, fourth- and sixth-round pick to trade back to the No. 22 slot last year to get Brady Quinn. Three second-round picks can be valuable in trades or on their own.
The Falcons picked up two starters in the second round last year -- Justin Blalock and Chris Houston -- and plenty of value is projected for the second round again in 2008.
NFLDraftScout.com has three quarterbacks projected to go in the second round -- Chad Henne, Andre Woodson and Joe Flacco. USC tackle Sam Baker also has a second-round projection and Boston College lineman Gosder Cherilus could slip into the second group.
If your desire is to replace Hall, five corners are projected to come off the board in the second or third round.
There's value to be found at every position the Falcons reportedly look to address, which makes number of picks appear more attractive than position.
General managers often refer to the first and second rounds as the "easier" part of the Draft. Every player in that range played well in college and should contribute right away.
It's easy to draw the line in the sand.
With four picks in the first day, the Falcons have the ability to address most every need before the real Draft -- rounds three through seven -- where the real search for value additions begin.
Feel free to comment below.
It's more than one player however. 
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