The Atlanta Falcons may be coming off of their ugliest loss of the season in Week 8, but they're just a half-game back of the Panthers for the NFC South lead.
And with the NFL trade deadline exactly a week away, the Falcons' 3-5 record shouldn't stop general manager Ian Cunningham from looking for ways to improve the roster ahead of the trade deadline--especially at the wide receiver position, which is one of their biggest needs.
Drake London has been carrying much of Atlanta's receiving production this season, while Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and the rest of the receiver room have struggled to provide consistent support.
And while Michael Penix Jr. has taken a step up, he's also displayed a lack of consistency as evidenced by his four-interception game in rainy Tampa Bay. But adding another weapon could make a significant difference in his development.
Fortunately, several intriguing receivers have surfaced in trade discussions around the league, including these three whom Atlanta should look to target before next week in the event they are buyers, and since Josh Downs appears to be headed elsewhere, he wasn't included.
The wide receiver targets the Atlanta Falcons should pursue before the trade deadline
1. Cleveland Browns WR Jerry Jeudy
Of the three potential targets, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy might be one of the more straightforward fits for the Atlanta Falcons…
For the Falcons, Jeudy would provide an experienced route runner who could work underneath and across the middle while London continues to handle the majority of the attention on the outside. Besides, he's been coached by Kevin Stefanski before in Cleveland.
There is one pretty significant problem, though. According to reports from NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter, the Browns aren't actively shopping Jeudy and would require a premium offer to move him before the deadline.
That could make a trade difficult for Atlanta, especially considering the Falcons have other roster needs to address. and he isn't worth what they want for him
2. Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. might be the most interesting wide receiver available at the trade deadline.
Thomas looked like one of the NFL's next great young receivers after his rookie season in 2024, when he caught 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Since then, things have gone downhill…He's behind Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and rookie Josh Cameron in Jacksonville's WR depth chart, as his skillset as an elite deep threat has not been a good fit for Liam Coen's scheme.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, multiple league executives believe Jacksonville could explore trading Thomas ahead of the deadline, although a deal is far from guaranteed.
The concern, of course, is whether Atlanta would be willing to give up significant draft capital for a player whose production has declined so dramatically. Still, if Ian Cunningham is looking to make a bigger move with both the present and future in mind, Thomas deserves serious consideration.
3. Buffalo Bills WR Keon Coleman
Then there's Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman, who might be the biggest wild card of the three…
His first two seasons in Buffalo haven't exactly gone according to plan and Buffalo's decision to trade for DJ Moore this offseason only added more competition to an already crowded receiver room.
However, the Bills haven't shown much interest in moving the former No. 33 overall pick.
General manager Brandon Beane confirmed in April that the organization wanted to give Coleman another opportunity under new head coach Joe Brady. Whether that stance changes before remains to be seen, especially with the Bils sitting at 6-1 and the presumptive favorite in the AFC.
Brian Thomas Jr. would be the most exciting addition, Jerry Jeudy offers proven veteran production, and Keon Coleman could be a lower cost gamble if Buffalo changes its stance.
Of course, the Atlanta Falcons don’t need to force a trade just for the sake of making one. But with the NFC South still within reach and Penix beginning to settle in, giving him another dependable receiver could be worth the investment.
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