Making sense of a quiet Falcons trade deadline

As much as any team, the Falcons were expected to come away with a pass rusher at the trade deadline, linked to multiple targets. But with the deadline come and gone, Atlanta once again came up empty-handed.

Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith, Baron Browning, Arden Key, Harold Landry, and more were said to be available, some of whom were moved, but nobody was linked to the Falcons more than Azeez Ojulari.

According to a report from Adam Schefter before the trade deadline, the Falcons were thought to be “aggressive about making pass rush calls” and were expected to pursue a trade for Ojulari.

Dianna Russini revealed the Giants’ asking price of a late fourth-round pick or early fifth-rounder for the Georgia native, but Mike Garafolo reported right before the 4 PM deadline that New York wouldn’t be moving him despite being 2-7 and Ojulari’s contract expiring.

It’s a bit of a disappointing Falcons trade deadline, but I’m going to make some sense of it from all sides.

The Giants, Titans, and other teams declined the Falcons’ offers, either because they weren’t satisfied with Terry Fontenot’s terms or (perhaps mistakenly) were unwilling to give up on their seasons. This is especially puzzling given New York’s record and the fact that Azeez Ojulari is on an expiring contract.

Moreover, whether he’s right or wrong, Terry Fontenot has shown he won’t overpay—at least according to his own definition. He has a set price he’s not willing to exceed. However, it’s worth noting that Atlanta also faced a setback in draft capital due to tampering penalties related to Kirk Cousins and Darnell Mooney, which influenced their trade flexibility.

Earlier this season, the Falcons also traded a third-round pick for Matt Judon—a move initially applauded by fans as a step forward for the pass rush. Unfortunately, it hasn’t played out as hoped, though it could be viewed as a “pre-trade deadline” acquisition meant to address similar concerns.

It’s a disappointing outcome, but let’s weigh the alternatives. The Falcons couldn’t secure a game-changing pass rusher like Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby because those players were never available.

So, would it really be worth giving up future assets for someone like Azeez Ojulari, who likely wouldn’t elevate the Falcons to championship level? Is the Super Bowl window even open for this team? In many ways, this roster isn’t quite Super Bowl-caliber. The pass rush is just one of several issues, and it’s far too significant for a mid-level pass rusher to fix alone. These are important questions to consider.

On that note, what track record does GM Terry Fontenot have to justify holding onto draft picks? Outside of a few notable first-rounders and Tyler Allgeier in the fifth round, who became less impactful after drafting Bijan Robinson eighth overall the following year, there hasn’t been much to point to. Can anyone convincingly argue that keeping these draft picks will make the Falcons better? That’s also a fair question.

Yes, the Falcons’ pass rush needs improvement, but one player wouldn’t have solved it. It’s a multi-year project. At the same time, fans have every right to be frustrated. Kirk Cousins isn’t getting any younger, and the NFC is more open than it has been in years. If the Falcons fall short in the playoffs, this season could end up being another one of the franchise’s many “what ifs.”