Atlanta moved up in the 1985 second round and acquired the…
Atlanta moved up in the 1985 second round and acquired the 45th overall pick from St. Louis, using it on defensive end Mike Gann. The Falcons sent No. 51 and No. 116 to the Cardinals. Gann then started every regular-season game he played for Atlanta, finishing with 118 starts across nine seasons. That durable defensive-line production made the move up exceptionally productive for the Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1985 second-round pick (No. 45 overall - Mike Gann)
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1985 second-round pick (No. 51 overall - Scott Bergold)
- pick 1985 fifth-round pick (No. 116 overall - K.D. Dunn)
Trade Analysis
Why the Pick Numbers Need Precision
Atlanta acquired the 45th overall pick in the 1985 draft, not the 17th overall selection. The confusion comes from its slot within the second round. The Falcons sent St. Louis the 51st overall pick and the 116th overall pick. Recording the true overall numbers makes the transaction easier to follow and connects each selection to the player actually chosen.
What Atlanta Received
The Falcons used No. 45 on defensive end Mike Gann. He became exactly the kind of result teams hope to find when moving up in the second round. Gann played nine seasons for Atlanta and started all 118 regular-season games in which he appeared for the club. His durability and long-term role on the defensive front gave the Falcons years of dependable value from the acquired pick.
What St. Louis Received
The Cardinals used No. 51 on Scott Bergold and No. 116 on K.D. Dunn. Receiving two selections for one gave St. Louis more shots at adding contributors, and that structural value deserves credit. Yet neither player established a career approaching Gann's sustained starting role. The extra fifth-round pick did not bridge the difference created by Atlanta landing a long-term starter.
How the Value Settled
This is a classic move-up that worked. Atlanta paid an additional selection but found a player who stayed in its lineup for most of a decade. St. Louis increased its quantity of picks, but the combined result did not equal the quality the Falcons obtained at No. 45.
Final Verdict
Atlanta earns an A- and St. Louis/Arizona a C. Gann's 118 starts provide a clear, durable return on the move up, while the Cardinals' two selections produced much less. The transaction is an Atlanta Falcons Win.