The Falcons don’t have as many options to fill their quarterback vacancy as a lot of fans once thought.
Ideally, Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris would find the next franchise quarterback in the draft because a rookie contract would enable the club to spend boatloads of money on other facets of the game.
Unfortunately, that may not be a possibility if the Falcons don’t find one of J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, Michael Penix, or another prospect as the answer because it seems very likely that the Bears, Commanders, and Patriots will take quarterbacks with the first three picks… or will they?
In his final column, Peter King announced his retirement but also dropped this gem, “I suppose the Bears are going to trade the top pick. I know nothing, but that seems to be the way the wind is blowing.”
He hedges a bit by stating he doesn’t know anything, but this is particularly interesting for the Falcons, who might be in play to trade up to the No. 1 overall pick. However, King doesn’t see Atlanta moving all the way up to Chicago’s pick.
“What I say: The Bears could keep Justin Fields (and should), and trade the first pick down once or twice, and build the kind of supporting cast a team needs to contend. Suppose GM Ryan Poles traded the top pick down one spot to Washington (which would take Caleb Williams), and got the second pick, a second-round pick and a 2025 first-round pick in return.”
So, the Commanders move up one selection to make sure they get their pick of the litter while the Bears own the No. 2 pick, which is where the Falcons come into the picture.
“Then suppose Poles traded the second pick to Atlanta at eight, and the Falcons picked one of the other quarterbacks. In return, Chicago gets the eighth pick, Atlanta’s second-round pick, and first- and second-round picks next year. Imagine moving from 1 to 8 and ending up with this draft haul:
- The eighth and ninth (their own) overall picks in round one this year.
- Second-round picks from Washington and Atlanta this year.
- Three first-round picks and two second-round picks in 2025.
For moving down seven picks in the first round, the Bears could end up with nine picks in the first two rounds of the next two drafts. Instant infrastructure.”
For Drake Maye or Caleb Williams, the Falcons would be fools not to give up a couple of first and second-round picks. Atlanta isn’t in desperate need of the infrastructure that King believes Chicago needs. The Falcons should value those premium selections, but they’ve done a good job building the roster, and it’s ripe for a quarterback to step in and take it over the top.
I still don’t think the Bears or Commanders come off their respective picks, but Peter King is plugged in, so I’ll maintain a sliver of hope.
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Photographer: David Jensen/Icon Sportswire
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