The NFL Trade Deadline is less than a week away, and the Falcons are in the market for a pass rusher. However, they’re not alone—virtually every contender in the league has the same mission. As Alex often says, pass rushers are like pitchers in baseball; good teams can never have enough of them. While top-tier talent won’t come cheap, the silver lining is that many teams appear ready to sell this year, as Raheem Morris highlighted in his latest press conference.
“Terry (Fontenot) is constantly looking and talking. We’re always looking to add everywhere,” Morris said, via Josh Kendal of The Athletic on X/Twitter. “There’s a lot more sellers than there used to be. Then you have to do all the value things. You have to make those decisions. It’s tough.”
The Panthers, Patriots, Titans, Jets, Jaguars, Saints, Raiders, Browns, and Giants are all 2-6 or worse and should already be focusing on next season and beyond. The Dolphins and Bengals could also start shifting toward the future with another loss this weekend. That means nearly a third of the league may be offloading talent over the next week, and the Falcons have no reason not to be among the first to inquire about defensive reinforcements.
Atlanta has a real opportunity to compete this season. The NFC is as open as ever, and Kirk Cousins has provided the Falcons with a strong offensive identity. Terry Fontenot has the resources—both cap space and draft picks—to make some bold moves, and there’s an undeniable need on the defensive side.
This is not a trade deadline the Falcons can afford to approach passively. Sitting atop the NFC South and looking to break a postseason drought that’s lingered since 2017, failing to maximize their chances with a veteran quarterback playing as well as any in the conference would be a major oversight by Fontenot.
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Photo: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
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