5 Trades the Atlanta Falcons should consider post 2020 Draft

With the 2020 NFL Draft over the Atlanta Falcons did a great job of drafting their needs and picking players that can make an immediate impact right out of the gate.

The roster still has a few holes but overall the Atlanta Falcons have had a successful 2020 NFL Offseason.

Now the draft is over there are sure to be a few players moved and the Atlanta Falcons need to make sure they take advantage of trades to ensure roster depth. There are five players the Falcons should have on their radar as possible trade pieces.

G Forrest Lamp

The target for the Atlanta Falcons is offensive guard Forrest Lamp from the Los Angeles Chargers. Lamp was taken in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft and has upside, but the issue has been his injuries since entering the league.

Lamp could provide stability on the offensive line by having the ability to play guard or tackle. The Chargers had Lamp playing guard but at Western Kentucky, he played offensive tackle and played an amazing game against Alabama.

The draft compensation should be light for Lamp and should only require a 5th-6th round pick to obtain him because of his injury history and he is on the last year of his deal. Lamp is currently projected to be the back guard for the Chargers.

LB Malik Jefferson

Staying with the Chargers the Atlanta Falcons should also look at linebacker Malik Jefferson. Jefferson would be a solid addition to the Falcons linebacking core and a great asset on special teams. Coming out of college at Texas, Jefferson had similar measurables to current Falcons linebacker Deion Jones.

Jefferson is a fast linebacker and would be a cheap, natural fit in Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme. The Atlanta Falcons should consider trading for him because he would provide great depth and special teams value for the Falcons. Just like Lamp, the Chargers likely trade their depth players because of their small deals and that they will likely not make the playoffs with the Chiefs in the division.

TE Dalton Shultz

This might surprise a few Atlanta Falcons fans after they traded for Hayden Hurst. Dalton Shultz would provide more stability at a tight end. He is similar to Austin Hooper; except he is not as developed as Hooper was going into year three.

The current starting tight ends on the Cowboys are Blake Jarwin and Dalton Shultz. Dallas seems like a prime candidate to trade for OJ Howard after the Buccaneers traded for Rob Gronkowski. Once that happens, Shultz is sure to be available for trade.

The Falcons would be wise to make this move giving them plenty of flexibility on offense and a backup plan in case there are any injuries.

WR Dante Pettis

The Atlanta Falcons have a solid wide receiving core but if anything happens to Julio Jones or Calvin Ridley, there is a huge roster hole on the team. Russell Gage has been solid but the Atlanta Falcons need to find a wide receiver that is better than Laquon Treadwell and Olamide Zaccheaus to be the team’s fourth option at wide receiver.

The Atlanta Falcons should target Dante Pettis as a potential option. Pettis was high on the Falcons radar during the 2018 NFL offseason. After the 49ers drafted Brandon Aiyuk, Pettis falls down the depth chart even more and is sure to become available in a trade. The compensation should be around a 5th round pick and the Atlanta Falcons add another solid receiver to the roster.

DE Charles Harris

The last asset player the Atlanta Falcons should consider trading for is defensive end Charles Harris from the Miami Dolphins. The former 2017 first-round pick has not lived up to his potential, mainly because of the situation he currently is with the Dolphins.

Falcons trading for Harris would give the Falcons even more stability at defensive end and they add a pass rusher to the rotation. Dan Quinn’s defense was at their best during the 2017 NFL season when they had a great defensive line rotation. Adding another player to the mix will make the Falcons defense even better.

The Atlanta Falcons are likely not going to make all of these moves, but they should be considered because it is only going to make the team stronger.