The Atlanta Falcons should be buyers not sellers

Outside of Grady Jarrett, the Atlanta Falcons defense has been in shambles. Whether it’s missing tackles, blown coverages or just plain horrible play, if the Falcons want to sniff at a chance to make the playoffs, they have to address the defense before the trade deadline.

There are plenty of players available for the Atlanta Falcons to trade for especially if the price is right. Rebuilding teams are always looking for draft picks and GM’s are always looking for a way to save some money. Whether it’s on the defensive line or the secondary, there is help available for the Falcons.

All we have heard this week is that players, coaches, and front office personnel believe that this team can turn it around. Well, if that is indeed the case, they should be buyers, not sellers as we work toward the deadline in a week and a half.

As the Rams have shown, nearly everyone is available if the price right and for the Falcons, that price would have to include parting with Vic Beasley. With any of the below suggestions, there is going to have to be a pick included as no team is going to simply take an unproductive Vic Beasley and his prorated contract.

Safety Karl Joseph probably won’t be on the Raiders too long, especially since they declined his fifth-year option. With a hole at safety thanks to the season-ending injury to Keanu Neal, the Falcons should be on the attack and reach out to the Raiders to gage the availability and see what it would take to secure Joseph.

The Broncos look like they are going nowhere fast and should be sellers at the trade deadline. The Falcons might have to offer a bit more to get a player the caliber of Chris Harris. Because of his cap hit, not only would the Falcons have to trade Beasley and a high draft pick (possibly second round), this would also mean that fan-favorite Mohammad Sanu would have to find a new home as well to get the extra money just in case the Falcons would want to resign him.

Defensive end Michael Bennett was suspended by the Patriots and while he is up there in age, there is no debate he can still get down on the football field. This season, he has 2.5 sacks which would lead the team and with the Patriots trading a fifth-round pick for him to get Bennett from the Eagles, the asking price shouldn’t be much at all.

There are options all over the league of guys of varying ages that would allow the Falcons to upgrade at various positions of the defensive side of the ball. The Falcons can afford to sacrifice a few pieces from their offense in order to get better on the defense and that is something that we will more than likely see happen.