Atlanta moved down from No. 45 to No. 53 in the 1998 draft…
Atlanta moved down from No. 45 to No. 53 in the 1998 draft and added pick No. 114. The Falcons selected guard Bob Hallen and returner-receiver Tim Dwight, both of whom became useful long-term NFL contributors. Dwight later became part of the trade package for Michael Vick. Tampa Bay used No. 45 on Brian Kelly, an important championship-era cornerback.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1998 2nd round pick (53rd overall, Bob Hallen )
- pick 1998 4th round pick (114th overall, Tim Dwight )
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 1998 2nd round pick (45th overall, Brian Kelly )
Trade Analysis
Why Tampa Bay Moved Up
The Buccaneers targeted cornerback Brian Kelly and climbed from No. 53 to No. 45, sending Atlanta the 114th pick as the cost of the move. Kelly became exactly the kind of player who can justify a draft-day trade-up. He played 141 NFL games, intercepted 22 passes and was part of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl-winning defense, giving the Buccaneers a long and productive return.
What Atlanta Received
The Falcons used No. 53 on offensive lineman Bob Hallen and No. 114 on Tim Dwight. Hallen played 86 career games and started 47, including 31 starts for Atlanta. Dwight became a dangerous returner and receiver, playing 116 NFL games. He scored a kickoff-return touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIII and later became part of Atlanta’s 2001 trade package to acquire the first overall pick used on Michael Vick.
How Both Sides Created Value
This is a case where the team moving up found a very good player and the team moving down still won the quantity side of the exchange. Kelly’s 22 interceptions and long Tampa Bay tenure were significant. Atlanta, however, extracted two useful players from one second-round slot, and Dwight retained additional trade value after three seasons with the Falcons. That combination slightly exceeds the value of Kelly alone.
Final Verdict
Atlanta Falcons Win. Atlanta earns a B+ for converting one pick into two durable contributors and later leveraging Dwight in another major transaction. Tampa Bay gets a B because Kelly was an excellent selection and a championship-caliber starter. Both clubs did well; Atlanta receives the narrow edge because the combined value and later flexibility of Hallen and Dwight were greater.
Atlanta landed two useful long-term contributors and later leveraged Dwight in the Michael Vick deal, while Kelly still became an important championship defender for Tampa Bay.