Atlanta Falcons could hire Billy Devaney
Atlanta Falcons helmet showing the Heads Up logo sitting on the field. Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons have one of the strongest organizations in the NFL with elite GM Thomas Dimitroff, CEO Rich McKay, owner Arthur Blank, head coach Mike Smith, assistant GM Scott Pioli, and director of player personnel Lionel Vital (interviewed with the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason for their GM openings and received significant interest). Their already stacked front office could become more star-studded shortly, as CBS Sports’s Jason La Canfora reports are strongly considering hiring former St. Louis Rams general manager Billy Devaney.
Although Devaney didn’t have the best run in St. Louis, he’s still held in high regard and would be a steal as a front office member. Devaney currently works for ESPN, appearing on shows such as NFL Insiders. What makes Devaney an even more attractive option is his connection to McKay, who recently received a lengthy extension.
The Falcons already added Pioli this offseason, and they know that they need a big offseason in order to patch up holes and build significant depth going forward. This is a team that still has Super Bowl aspirations, and they have the core pieces to go on another run like in 2012. However, they need to make several upgrades on defense, and their offensive line is in dire straits.
The move isn’t the problem, but the timing is more than just alarming.