As the Falcons fell to 1-7 to start the season, they seemed destined to sell off some pieces and receive a high draft pick. Neither of these came to fruition, but we now have an idea of what was going on in negotiations as GM Thomas Dimitroff weighed their options. According to Jason Butt of The Athletic, the Falcons considered trades for Vic Beasley, Desmond Trufant, and Devonta Freeman before last season’s trade deadline:
Leading up to the trade deadline, the Falcons placed defensive end Vic Beasley on the block and also were willing to listen to suitors who wanted to inquire about Freeman and cornerback Desmond Trufant. Of the three, Freeman was the one who received the most interest.
Freeman being named a trade candidate comes as no surprise. We have heard rumors of a potential deal with the Detroit Lions, but Atlanta opted not to pull the trigger. Regardless, his future with the Falcons is in doubt, with it looking more and more likely he will be cut by the team. If owner Arthur Blank’s comments are not convincing enough, consider the fact that the Falcons hosted 13 running backs at the NFL Combine. It seems they are leaning towards moving in another direction.
The Falcons oddly announced on their own Twitter account that they will not be pursuing Vic Beasley as a free agent, effectively ending his time in Atlanta:
BREAKING NEWS: We will not pursue negotiations with Vic Beasley this offseason. https://t.co/AWbxv1SiGi
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) February 3, 2020
Beasley turned up the heat to finish the season but struggled most of his career in Atlanta. I find it quite interesting that when he was not playing well, the team was not willing to move him, but now that he stepped things up, they will allow him to walk. But with Beasley owed $12.8 million last year, teams probably did not feel he was a value at his cap figure, and the market was limited.
The name we had not heard in any prior reports is Desmond Trufant. Like Beasley, he likely had a limited market due to his high salary. He is a quality corner but is set to hit his 30’s and suffers from lapses in coverage at times. Holding on to Trufant is likely a wise decision though for a Falcons roster that can use more quality corners, not less.
Through cuts, The Falcons will look to open up some cap space this offseason, and they can save $4.9 million if they cut Trufant. But they would have a very inexperienced secondary that would require multiple signings and draft picks to fix. It is for the best that he remains in Atlanta. Unless they feel a draft pick can replace him on day one, there is no way they will find better production with those cap savings in free agency, and the Falcons have a ton of needs to fill as is.
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