Atlanta Falcons: Trading down from No. 4 is the best plan of attack
The Atlanta Falcons have been trending down ever since they lost Super Bowl LI to the New England Patriots in devastating fashion. Under the direction of new general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith, the Falcons hope to turn their fortunes around quickly.
Holding the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons have an opportunity to take a player who can reshape the fortune of their organization for many years. However, they are arguably the most difficult team to make a prediction for in the top five.
The quarterback position stands out as a potential need for the Falcons. Matt Ryan has been great for the franchise for many years, but he will be 36-years-old during the 2021 season. It is fair to question his ability to lead this team into the future. If the Falcons fall in love with a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft and he is available at No. 4, they could easily make that move.
That being said, their recent restructure of Ryan’s contract suggests that they are not seriously looking in that direction. If quarterback is not a viable option for the Falcons at No. 4, a trade down scenario may be their best bet.
The quarterback market is white-hot right now. We saw the Miami Dolphins get a massive haul from the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 3 overall pick and with five quarterbacks expected to go early, the Falcons could get a similar haul if they are willing to move down. Quarterbacks will go with the first three picks of the 2021 NFL Draft but that will still leave two quarterback prospects for who teams will likely be looking to move up the board.
A trade down scenario makes sense for the Atlanta Falcons due to their positions of need. They could beef up their offensive attack with the selection of Penei Sewell or Kyle Pitts at No. 4, but the Falcons’ most dire needs come on the defensive side of the ball. The Atlanta defense is an absolute mess and trading down to a spot where they can address the defensive side of the ball at a proper value makes the most sense.
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While the Atlanta Falcons went 4-12 last season, this is still a talented, veteran squad who could turn their fortunes around quickly. If quarterback is not a serious option for the team at No. 4, trading down to pick up extra draft capital and target a premier defensive prospect is their best path to success early in the 2021 NFL Draft.