Grading Dimitroff’s Previous First Round Picks
By John Buhler
Aug 16, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons tackle Sam Baker (72) is assisted off the field during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
2008: OT Sam Baker, USC (21st Overall)
Thomas Dimitroff found himself with a second first round pick in 2008 thanks to a draft day trade with the Washington Redskins. Dimitroff used the 21st overall selection on OT Sam Baker of the USC Trojans. The thought was to move into the back-end of round one and find Ryan’s blind side protector.
Baker was a three-time All American in the Pac-10 and was the sixth OT taken in the first round. When healthy Sam Baker does well in pass protection and run blocking. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Baker rarely is as he has only played 70 games for the Falcons in seven seasons. Houston’s three-time Pro Bowl OT Duane Brown went only five slots after Baker out of Virginia Tech. Brown has averaged four more games played per season over Sam Baker in the same time frame.
Hindsight’s always 20/20 and Brown may have been the better choice here. Injuries are part of the game, but was it worth it for Dimitroff to trade back into the first round for an OT that can’t stay healthy? With each game Baker misses, it feels more and more like no.
Grade: 72, C-