The Falcons made their first splash of the trade season by sending beloved veteran wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to the Patriots for a second-round pick. This comes after it was reported last week that Atlanta had made edge rusher, Vic Beasley, available for trade following the team’s dismal start. However, Beasley has not generated nearly as much interest on the block as Sanu – Jeff Schultz of The Athletic reports.
Falcons continue to try to trade Vic Beasley but market – normally hot for a pass rusher – is weak because Beasley has spiraled so much. Several teams were interested in Sanu. @TheAthleticATL
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) October 22, 2019
The former #8 overall pick became an All-Pro in just his second season, leading the NFL with 15.5 sacks but has not come close to replicating that success since. In 2017 and 2018, Beasley racked up ten sacks combined and only has 1.5 sacks through seven games this season.
Beyond his inability to bring down the quarterback, his overall ineffectiveness in generating pressure and against the run is noticeable. Beasley is a one-trick pony, and that trick hasn’t fooled anybody for three years now. It shouldn’t come as a shock that teams in need of a pass rusher have no interest.
Last year, Dante Fowler fetched a third-round pick in a similar situation. The Falcons aren’t going to receive that for Beasley. Perhaps Atlanta can land a Day 3 selection for him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Beasley has become untradeable due to his underwhelming play. It is not at all unfathomable that this former top ten pick could be out of the league altogether sometime next year.