Falcons generating buzz as a potential trade team

Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot has yet to make a first-round trade. Is that about to change?

We’re just hours away from the start of the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Falcons are among the teams reportedly involved in trade talks. That shouldn’t come as a major surprise, as it’s been clear for weeks that Atlanta could be in a prime spot to draw interest as a potential trade partner.

Many expect the first seven picks to be offensive prospects, which would give the Falcons their top choice of defensive talent. It’s like they are attending a surf-and-turf buffet with seven friends who don’t eat red meat. However, depending on how closely the top defensive prospects are ranked on its draft board, Atlanta could move back a handful of spots and still land a player they’d be thrilled with.

Therein lies the genesis of these trade rumors, and why the Falcons would be an appealing team to negotiate with for another organization that seeks to snag a player away from another team higher in the draft. Players like Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers or any remaining quarterbacks have been commonly mentioned as potential options that a team might trade up for.

In his notes about the draft on Wednesday, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentioned the Falcons as a team involved in calls to trade up in the first round:

“Just to reset, teams that have called on trading up within the top half of the first round: Las Vegas Raiders, Broncos, Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and Giants.”

The wording there is a little confusing, but, if taken at face value, it would seem the Falcons have made calls about moving up from their No. 8 spot to grab a player they feel might be off the board by the time they go on the clock. However, it could also mean they are receiving calls from teams looking to trade up into the top half of the first round. If they are in fact looking to go up even higher in the draft, that would be very interesting.

Just a few hours before the draft, WSB Sports Director Zach Klein also reported the Falcons are “open for business” at No. 8 and named the Los Angeles Rams as a potential trade partner. That would make sense given Raheem Morris’s connection with the Rams, and LA General Manager Les Snead’s connection with the Falcons.

Earlier in the afternoon, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini also shared reports about multiple teams, including the Rams, looking to trade up in the draft.

The Falcons’ phones should be ringing frequently in Flowery Branch on Thursday night, giving them plenty of options. Settle in!