It would be stretching it to say Dan Reeves was guilty of reaching as coordinator of his first draft with the Atlanta Falcons. But in an NFL draft lottery that lacked much in the way of can't-miss, marquee players, no team better represented the draft-for-potential philosophy than Atlanta.

From cornerback Michael Booker in the first round to defensive tackle Nathan Davis in the second to tight end O.J. Santiago in the third, nearly every Falcon selection comes equipped with a question mark to go with tremendous upside potential. Reeves used the team's eight selections on seven different positions -- five on defense (three defensive tackles, one lineman, one linebacker) and three on offense (running back, quarterback, guard/center).

When the Falcons took Booker with the 11th overall selection, the first thing that went through everybody's mind was not the tremendous performance he exhibited against Florida in the Fiesta Bowl two years ago but memories of Bruce Pickens. Why Pickens? He was the last Nebraska cornerback Atlanta took in the first round. He was projected as a starter for years to come but crashed and burned.

Booker promises history won't repeat, saying, "I plan to be around for a long time.''

He'll get a chance to prove it. Reeves expects him to start immediately at right cornerback on the opposite sideline from Ray Buchanan. Booker has good size and is physical but sometimes is slow to turn back on the ball and pick up his responsibilities in zone. Said secondary coach Ron Meeks: "He'll have to learn to do the multiple things in coverage, but we expect him to come in and play right now for us.''

The second pick, defensive tackle Nathan Davis, also is long on potential. He also has the size Reeves was seeking at 312 pounds. But he must adjust to a new position (he played end in college) and suffered from a sub-par senior season, partly because of admitted motivational problems. If Davis develops as the team hopes, he could end up being a steal at 32nd overall. Or, he could be a complete flop.

The Falcons' safest pick may have come later in the second round in Texas Tech running back Byron Hanspard. It was a curious selection in that Jamal Anderson will handle the running duties for Reeves. But Hanspard gives Atlanta a great breakaway threat (which Anderson isn't) and was expected to go earlier than 41st overall. He rushed for 4,219 yards in his college career, including 2,148 his senior season. Reeves: "He turns the corner when people don't think he can and he's been tremendously productive.''

Reeves drafted for potential again in the third round with the selection of tight end O.J. Santiago of Kent. Santiago stands nearly 6-7, but has great receiving potential. However, he can easily get knocked off the ball and needs to get stronger.

"We're betting a little bit on the come,'' Reeves said of his selections. "If they can push some of the people who were here, we'll be better for that.''

As expected, the Falcons never got their quarterback of the future in the draft. Reeves had designs on taking Florida's Danny Wuerffel in the fifth round (133rd overall). But New Orleans coach Mike Ditka jumped on Wuerffel in the fourth with the 99th pick. Reeves used the first of two seventh-round selections on Tony Graziani, an Oregon quarterback, who was recruited by defensive coordinator Rich Brooks. But Graziani will go to camp as the third or fourth QB, with starter Chris Chandler, Tommy Maddox and Billy Joe Tolliver. If he makes it to the regular season, it will be as scout-team quarterback.

ROUND-BY-ROUND ANALYSIS

Round 1/11 -- Michael Booker, CB, Nebraska

Reeves didn't get Shawn Springs or Bryant Westbrook or Tom Knight. But he did get a cornerback with good size (6-1, 200 pounds) and athletic ability, who is likely to step in as an immediate starter on the opposite side of free-agent import Ray Buchanan. Reeves fully expects Booker to make mistakes but feels there will be dividends in the long run. Booker is physical and at his best playing bump-and-run. But he has shortcomings in off-man and zone schemes. Can be slow in turning his head around. But he can come up big in the big games, as he did in the Fiesta Bowl two years ago with an interception and runback for a touchdown against Florida, when he was named the game's defensive MVP. Opposing quarterbacks stayed away from him in his senior year (25 tackles, eight pass breakups, one interception).

Round 2/32 -- Nathan Davis, DT, Indiana

Reeves wanted beef, and he got it with the 6-5, 312-pound Davis. Davis, the Big Ten shot put champion, is a workout-aholic who plays hard and has the ability to dominate inside, though he leveled off some in his senior season. He mostly played at end for Indiana but has added 40 pounds in the last two seasons and will play inside in the NFL. He has good speed for a big man. Biggest knocks on Davis focus on his inconsistency and mood swings. It will be up to D-line coach Bill Kollar to stay on Davis and keep him in fourth gear. If he does, Davis could make the Falcons' draft.

Round 2/41 -- Byron Hanspard, RB, Texas Tech

Running back was not one of the Falcons' great need positions, where Jamal Anderson is the centerpiece of the offense. But Reeves felt he couldn't pass on Hanspard, a former Parade High School All-America and an ordained minister who last year won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. Hanspard finished off his junior year at Texas Tech with a 260-yard performance against Air Force in the Cotton Bowl, then in his senior season rushed for 2,084 yards and 13 touchdowns with 17 catches for 192 yards and another TD. He finished fifth in the Heisman voting. However, the 5-10 1/2, 198 pounds Hanspard is not a very good blocker, has a tendency to fumble and, because of his straight-up running style, can get tripped up easily. But he's always a breakaway threat.

Round 3/70 -- O.J. Santiago, TE, Kent

The Falcons did not get one of the two best tight ends in the draft (David LaFleur and Tony Gonzalez) and it remains to be seen how good Santiago is. The Canadian native has great size (6-7, 267 pounds) and great leaping ability. But he lacks experience, having not played organized football until his junior year in high school, and it shows in his pass routes. He also can get knocked off the ball easily, and will need to get stronger physically. But he has great potential.

Round 4/100 -- Henri Crockett, LB, Florida State

Crockett has NFL bloodlines (his brother is Zack, the Indianapolis fullback) and a desire to show 30 teams that he was drafted too late. He expected to go the first day of the draft. Crockett, at 6-2, 249-pounds, can play both outside (strong side) and inside. Negatives include his inexperience in coverage and the fact he is only a one-year starter. But Reeves likes his instincts and the fact he performed well in the recent Senior Bowl and pre-draft combine. He is a strong hitter who can burst to the ball. But he needs to work on his coverage skills and sometimes has trouble taking on blockers.

Round 5/133 -- Marcus Wimberly, FS, Miami

With Patrick Bates likely to be released after recent assault charges and Brad Edwards gone in free agency, Reeves filled a need with the 5-11 1/2, 204-pound Wimberly. He played for two years at wide receiver but changed positions for his junior and senior years. Reeves likes Wimberly's tackling ability. But, once again, his experience at safety is limited and Reeves is betting that instincts will make up for any shortcomings.

Round 6/180 -- Calvin Collins, G/C, Texas A&M

At 6-1 1/2, 307 pounds, Collins has a powerful build with strong thighs as an inside blocker. He's short but is, what scouts terms, a good "knee bender.'' But he is not an immediate threat inside to Robbie Tobeck, Roman Fortin or Gene Williams. Collins is said to have decent quickness and can get downfield on screens. But his short, squatty build makes it difficult for him to adjust.

Round 7/204 -- Tony Graziani, QB, Oregon

The Falcons got a quarterback in the draft but it isn't their quarterback of the future. The 6-2, 195-pound Graziani missed half of his senior season with a knee injury, though he threw for 1,353 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions in six games. He is left-handed and has good mobility, making him an effective scrambler. But he has "happy feet'' in the pocket and does not possess a strong arm.

Round 7/222 --Chris Bayne, S, Fresno State

Reeves continued to shop for bodies at the thin safety position by getting the 5-11, 212-pound Bayne. He played mostly outside linebacker at Fresno but Reeves feels his aggressiveness and hitting ability give him safety potential. But those hits will have to come on special teams if Bayne is to make an impact this season.