The Falcons are less than two weeks away from making their third consecutive selection at the No. 8 overall pick, and Terry Fontenot seems primed to do something he’s never done before.
Atlanta’s GM has drafted skill players in each of his three cycles, but everyone expects the Falcons to do one of two things:
1) Stay put and draft Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse, or another defensive prospect
2) Trade back to accumulate more draft capital.
Well, how about both? In the latest mock draft from CBS Sports, the Falcons trade back with the Bills, who are one of many teams that could be looking to move up in the draft.
How about someone other than one of the top edge rushers for the Falcons? As for the Bills, they are too tempted by Nabers’ fall and send No. 28, No. 60 and a 2025 first-round pick to Atlanta, whose GM Terry Fontenot does have ties to Buffalo’s offensive coordinator Joe Brady and new quarterback coach Ronald Curry from their time together in New Orleans. Beyond the chance to draft the electric LSU wideout, the Bills get No. 109 in return from the Falcons. After this move, Atlanta would be overflowing with early draft capital.
Two first-round picks and a second-round pick seems a bit cheap for moving back 20 spots in the draft, especially considering the Falcons also part ways with a fourth-round pick. However, I do think a deal like this is interesting.
The Bills need to replace Stefon Diggs, and Malik Nabers could be there to dangle in front of Buffalo. However, Rome Odunze could be used in a similar situation with a few other receiver-needy clubs.
The only downside is the Falcons move so far back that they limit their chances of finding a Day 1 impact player, which is where the second trade comes into the picture. The Falcons move back up in a deal with the Seahawks, sending Seattle the two 2024 picks received from Buffalo in exchange for Seattle’s first-round pick, with which they select Laiatu Latu.
The Falcons unload the two 2024 picks they got from the Bills in Buffalo’s trade up — No. 28 and No. 60 — to make an ascension of their own to land Latu. The Seahawks have a history of being happy to slide back in the draft. This works out amazingly for Atlanta, as the club gets a premier edge-rusher prospect and gets a 2025 first-round pick in the process.
Now, all in all, it takes the Falcons a fourth-round pick to move back eight slots in exchange for a first-round pick in 2025. Is that something you’d be interested in doing?
At first, the first trade with Buffalo seems like Atlanta is drawing the short end of the stick, but when it’s all said and done, the Falcons ending up with the No. 16 pick and an extra 2025 first-round pick for a fourth-round pick seems like a good deal.
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Photographer: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire
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