Five trades Atlanta Falcons should make prior to NFL trade deadline

4. RB Devonta Freeman, 2020 6th round pick to the Dolphins for RB Kenyon Drake, 2020 4th round pick

Devonta Freeman is still under contract until the 2022 season so making a trade for him is a more tricky task. The Falcons would love to rid his $6.75 million cap hit this year that increases the next three seasons of the deal. Freeman is set to make $9.5 million in 2020, $9.3 million in 2021 and $8.2 million in 2022, so finding a trade partner with cap space and a need for a running back is key.

To me, the Miami Dolphins make sense as their looking for a new running back in town with having Kenyon Drake on the trade block and have the cap space to absorb Freeman’s contract. Drake is on the last year of his rookie contract so the Falcons would get a running back with no commitment to next year which is crucial to their cap space moving forward.

If Drake proves to be a steady back in the Atlanta backfield he would be a cheaper option to split carries with Ito Smith, rather than having Freeman who has been injury-prone and has not performed adequately since back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons earlier in his career.

5.  CB Desmond Trufant to the Eagles for 2021 1st round pick, CB Jalen Mills

Desmond Trufant is also locked up under contract until 2022, so making a move for him will also be a challenge, but can benefit the Falcons to relieve some cap space. His cap hit of $13.9 million this year is steep but the Eagles also lack help in the secondary, which has amounted to the Eagles struggling early on this season.

These two teams already made a deal earlier this year when the Atlanta Falcons sent linebacker Duke Riley and a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft to the Eagles for safety Johnathan Cyprien and a seventh-round pick n the 2020 NFL draft. So the Eagles should call the Atlanta Falcons about the availability of Trufant.

Jalen Mills originally a seventh-round draft pick in 2016  has been the Eagles number two cornerback this season alongside Ronald Darby. Mills is in the last year of his rookie deal and the Eagles will likely look to move on from him. Adding Trufant would give the Eagles a number one corner with Darby next to him, creating a better secondary for the Eagles.

As for the Falcons, Isaiah Oliver would be the number one corner and newly acquired Mills would slide alongside him. This would pave the way for rookies Kendall Sheffield and Jordan Miller to see more playing time down the stretch.

The Atlanta Falcons should be busy on the phone as the trade deadline approaches as they are looking towards the draft next season and gaining as many picks as possible for a quick turnaround.