Atlanta Falcons: The argument for trading back in 2021 NFL Draft

The argument for the Atlanta Falcons to trade back in the 2021 NFL Draft

The Atlanta Falcons currently hold the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but there is a contingent of the fan base who believes they might be better off marketing it to the highest-bidder and trading back.

It’s not very often- at least it shouldn’t be- that a franchise possesses a top-five in the NFL Draft. Those picks, if made correctly, can be game-changing decisions that alter the course of a franchise for years to come.

Because of the value of those picks, though, there is a high leverage that can be obtained if a team chooses to market their spot to potential suitors.

Here’s the case for why the Atlanta Falcons could trade back in the draft.

In the case of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons would be looking for QB-hungry franchises who are desperate to find their next answer

Let’s assume that the Jacksonville Jaguars take Trevor Lawrence No. 1 overall and the New York Jets also take a quarterback (Ie Zach Wilson or Justin Fields).

As the Miami Dolphins are on the clock, there will be just two- possibly three- big names in the QB market left (Trey Lance, Mac Jones and either Wilson or Fields). You’ve got to believe that those franchises desperate to find a quarterback in this draft are going to come calling in a big way.

Whether the Dolphins trade their pick or not, there is going to be an even more added urgency with the Falcons’ No. 4 pick.

In this case, the Falcons can leverage the fact that they may be considering a quarterback as well. The result? Atlanta could end up with a later first-round pick (where they address a position with the best player available), a valuable 2022 first-round pick and another 2021 second-round pick.

With two second-round picks in this year’s draft, the Falcons would be able to find valuable commodities to address positions of need and then with two first-round picks in next year’s draft, the Falcons could leverage themselves and move up if they chose to address their franchise QB need if they somehow didn’t have a top-five pick in the draft.

The overarching point? More picks means more opportunities to better the team- without taking major cap hits- and, unless you’re sold on a top quarterback in this year’s draft, the Falcons would still be able to leverage themselves into the top-five of next year’s draft no matter where they finished during the 2021 season.