Three ideal trade partners for the Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons will have a lot of options with their fourth overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Will they keep it and draft a quarterback, trade up to draft a better quarterback, draft one of the best non-quarterback in the draft, or trade back and pick up additional assets for the future?

All of these options are on the table for the Atlanta Falcons and they honestly could not go wrong with any of those choices.

If they were to trade back, who would be their ideal trading partners?

We wrote a piece last week that said the Atlanta Falcons should not hesitate to trade with Carolina Panthers should they come calling. The rationale behind that was that while providing access to the Panthers to drat their future quarterback, more importantly, they would be taking important draft resources from the Panthers which would limit the team and what they could build around that draft choice.

There are three other draft trade partners that make a lot of sense for the Atlanta Falcons.

New England Patriots

The Patriots were the most active team in the NFL during the initial wave of free agency with the hopes of not missing out on the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Clearly, Tom Brady winning a Super Bowl with him really upset Bill Belichick.

Currently, the Patriots hold picks 15, 46, and 96 in the first three rounds of the NFL draft.

Yes, they just signed Cam Newton to a new one-year deal but they are on the lookout for their future franchise quarterback and they realize that Trey Lance is not going to be around at pick 15.

Going all in like they did during free agency means they are willing to part with all three of their picks in the early rounds and the Atlanta Falcons should be willing to move off of their current pick in order to accumulate more draft depth.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts believe they have their quarterback of the future in former Eagles star Carson Wentz.

They currently have the two picks in the first two rounds – 21st and 54th overall. They need to surround Wentz with playmakers and studs like Kyle Pitts and Ja’Marr Chase would fit in nicely up in Indianapolis.

Swapping firsts and taking their 54th as well as an early in pick in 2022 would make sense for the Falcons and something that the Colts may be willing to entertain.

They have the best offensive line in the NFL and need to win now with the talent that they have upfront. There is enough talent on the front end of this draft to help them get closer while also providing the assets that the Falcons need in order to rebuild quicker than most franchises.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Big Ben is coming back for one more year, but he does not have a lot left in the tank and the Steelers brass is already planning for life without him.

Like the Patriots, the Steelers have three picks in the first three rounds – 24, 55, and 87.

Dropping back 20 spots may not be something that Atlanta Falcons fans want to see but it actually makes sense. Not only would you add an additional draft capital, but you be in a prime position to take either Travis Etienne out of Clemson or Najee Harris out of Alabama.

At 24, both would be value picks and it would give Arthur Smith the game-changing running back he needs in Atlanta to pair with the newly acquired Mike Davis.

All three of these draft partners would make a lot of sense for the Atlanta Falcons and the potential deals that could be done not only help the franchise but would also be made with franchises who the Falcons aren’t playing in 2021.