The clues have been myriad Youth Qadree Ollison Jersey , and for once we can’t call it all a smokescreen."or you when the draft arrives next week, but for the Atlanta Falcons, it looks like the line is going to be an early pick. Or even two. The evidence for this is not concrete, but it all points in the same direction. The Falcons invested significantly in short-term solutions at guard, but Wes Schweitzer is a free agent after next year and Brandon Fusco is similarly only around for (at most) another year or two. There’s no backup center for Alex Mack on the roster, unless Adam Gettis is better than anyone expects. And the right tackle situation is Ty Sambrailo (typically a swing guy), Matt Gono, and versatile sometimes starter John Wetzel, which is a one year situation at best. The conclusion: The Falcons have not made any real long-term moves along their offensive line, meaning they still need young, capable starters in the near future. James Carpenter and Jamon Brown are big moves Black Desmond Trufant Jersey , pun not entirely intended, and both could hold down a guard spot for 1-3 seasons. But the team’s only other moves this offseason have been to add back-of-the-roster competition in the form of guys like Gettis and Wetzel, and for a team that made it clear it wasn’t thrilled with its line play a year ago, Then, of course, there’s what the team has been doing with their visits, and what they’ve been saying. There’s this: And this: With the avowed interest in line prospects, which can be dismissed most years but not when you have so many long-term questions along a critical unit that the team has mostly neglected for a long time, you can make a strong case for a Cody Ford in round 1 or a Tytus Howard in round 2. Add in the team’s decision to mostly stand pat at tackle and you have a recipe for, if not a first round selection along the offensive line, at least one in the draft’s first two days.I’m fine with that Desmond Trufant Jersey 2019 , even if I’ve had to warm up to the idea of a first rounder. This team has invested laughably little draft capital in the line under Dan Quinn, spending just a fourth, sixth and seventh rounder over three years and getting one average (depending on your viewpoint) starter out of that investment. A relatively deep class, especially at tackle, means a rare opportunity for the Falcons to make smart investments and have them potentially pay off. While I’d be less-than-thrilled to have two of the team’s first three picks go to offense, landing long-term starters at tackle and guard would be a welcome and necessary development.Now we just wait to see whether it’s OL at 14 or OL later, but if the Falcons go the first three rounds without upgrading the trenches, they’ve learned very little. Fact: Austin Hooper grows his own sunflowers"Austin Hooper joined the Falcons as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed 21 year old with tons of potential. Scouts worried about his hands and route running, but the Falcons saw something. They saw a guy that could one day grow into a franchise tight end. They saw a potential Pro Bowler. Three years later, Hooper has proven them right. And no one is saying anything about hands. Impact Hooper racked up 71 receptions (4th among TEs) Black Damontae Kazee Jersey , 660 receiving yards (7th among TEs), and four receiving touchdowns (9th among TEs) in 2018. His Pro Football Focus ratings were solid: 68.5 overall (#23 TE), 67.5 receiving (#20 TE), 65.4 run blocking (#23 TE), and 72.0 pass blocking (#15 TE). (For what it’s worth, each of those ratings are “above average,” according to their metrics.) Hooper was incredibly efficient, showcasing a catch rate of 80.7 percent, best among NFL TEs. In short, Hooper became the safety blanket we’d hope he could be this season. The Falcons offense and quarterback Matt Ryan once again have an elite TE at their disposal. Career Window Hooper will turn 25 in October during his fourth year as a professional. The Falcons have eased him into his current role to some degree, so he arguably has less tread on his tires than some similarly situated players. Hooper’s best years are likely ahead of him Damontae Kazee Jersey 2019 , and given the relative longevity of TEs in the NFL, Hooper may wind up sticking on this roster longer than most of his current teammates. I won’t be surprised if Hooper plays a decade in Atlanta. Contract Situation Hooper’s current contract expires after next season. He has three accrued seasons and would be an unrestricted free agent if he reaches free agency. I highly doubt that will happen, given how last year played out. Hooper made the Pro Bowl during his third year as a professional and there’s no reason to doubt his ability to contribute at a similar clip going forward. Given Flowery Branch’s current financial situation, Hooper will need to stand in line a while waiting for an extension, but I can’t see a scenario where the Falcons don’t try to make it work. Looking Ahead Hooper is suddenly one of the most important offensive weapons in the Falcons’ arsenal. We watched him grow into an elite tight end this season. The Falcons may look to address Hooper’s extension this summer, but don’t be dismayed if they wait until the season kicks off to hash out a new deal. Hooper ain’t going nowhere. Your thoughts, Falcoholics?