Now that the NFL trade deadline is in the books, it's the perfect time to reflect on what the Atlanta Falcons have done under new management. Ian Cunningham enjoyed a mini-sale in his first trade deadline as the Falcons' general manager, as Jessie Bates and Ryan Neuzil were both traded away.
Cunningham has only been on the job for roughly 10 and a half months at this point, yet he's made six player trades across this timeframe. He's not scared to get wheeling and dealing, and frankly, it's hard to deny he's done an admirable job cleaning up the mess that former GM Terry Fontenot left behind.
Hopes were high for Cunningham when we learned he was a disciple of both Howie Roseman and Ozzie Newsome and was a part of Super Bowl-winning front offices in both Philadelphia and Baltimore, and helped engineer the resurgence of the Chicago Bears as Ryan Poles' right-hand man.
So far, he's put the lessons from some of the best in the business to good use, as he has given this team more of a direction in less than a year than his predecessor did in five. And it sounds like the perfect time to trades he has made in order as most impactful as they continue to look better.
What is the best trade Ian Cunningham has made as the GM of the Falcons?
6. Falcons acquire OT Wanya Morris from Kansas City
Of course, the worst trade Cunningham has made is the only trade you can consider a true "miss" from this list. Back in June, the Dirty Birds traded a sixth-round pick in exchange for Kansas City offensive tackle Wanya Morris and a seventh-rounder, and that deal never really amounted to much.
Not to be confused with the lead singer of Boyz II Men, Morris was brought in to compete for a roster spot after it came out that Storm Norton would miss the season. Ideally he was supposed to be a swing tackle, which never amounted to much as he fell behind Michael Jerrell in the pecking order.
Morris was a surprise release during final roster cuts in August, as both Jerrell and rookie Ethan Onianwa made the roster over him. He never so much as suited up in-game for the Falcons, and a 6-7 swap for a guy meant to compete for a roster spot isn't exactly a killer. That's part of the risk you take.
It also helped that this was the lowest-stakes trade he made, as Morris has remained on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad since being cut.
5. Falcons trade C Ryan Neuzil to Baltimore for OG Andrew Vorhees and a pick
Next up we have one of the trades from Tuesday, where Atlanta sent starting center Ryan Neuzil to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick. Obviously, this is further down the list because of the lower stakes, but we also haven't had a chance to see it play out.
With that in mind, I do like this trade a little bit. The Falcons knew Neuzil was never going to be a long-term fix at center after he replaced Drew Dalman last year, and he was never a scheme fit under Bill Callahan, so they let him reunite with Dwayne Ledford on a Ravens team desperate for OL help.
As for Callahan, the 6-foot-6, 330-pound Vorhees is a much better fit for a team that wants USDA-grade beef in the trenches compared to the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Neuzil. And now he gets to start his guy Corey Levin instead, who genuinely might be better than the center play we have gotten this year.
If Atlanta was going to let him walk anyway, a comp pick wasn't in the cards because of their 2027 cap space, so well done to at least get something out of a replacement-level starter. But even best-case, this won't amount to much.
4. Falcons trade DT Ruke Orhorhoro to Jacksonville for DT Maason Smith
Keep in mind these next two trades are fairly interchangeable, but next is a deal with no picks involved. We're talking about the straight-up swap of 2024 second-round picks between the Falcons and Jaguars that sent Ruke Orhorhoro to Jacksonville and Maason Smith to Atlanta.
Both teams were dissatisified with the DT they had, and while the original reception was not good, it's safe to say this trade was a hit from Cunningham and a big win for the Falcons. In his first season getting major snaps, Smith has broken out into a quality rotational DT where he is finally being used right with his big frame.
According to ESPN research, his 26% pass-rush win rate is second-best among all defensive tackles--with only Alim McNeil of the Lions ahead of him. For reference, that's better than Jeffery Simmons, a player the Chicago Bears traded two first-round picks for just a couple of weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Orhorhoro has failed to take that next step in Jacksonvile. He was so underwhelming to the point the Jags traded for both Jordan Davis and Davon Godchaux before the trade deadline and realized this trade was a complete miss, so well-done Cunningham for recognizing the upside here.
3. Falcons acquire DB Sydney Brown from Philadelphia
In third place, we have the trade that sent Sydney Brown from the Eagles to the Falcons for two pick swaps in the 2026 NFL Draft. Atlanta sent picks 114 and 1197 to Philly in exchange for picks 122 and 215. There are two layers to this trade: his production and the ripple effect, so let's start with his play.
Brown has rotated in as a nickel cornerback, where he's been especially impactful as a tackler/run defender, but keeping him around the box has also helped him improve in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, his 68.1 coverage grade ranks 21st out of 100 qualified safeties this season. And now that Jessie Bates has been moved, he could see more action at safety.
I put this deal ahead of the Ruke-Smith swap because of the butterfly effect. Though Smith is the more impactful player for this defense, the Brown trade helped produce multiple starters, as they sent pick 122 to Las Vegas in a trade-down, later taking Kendal Daniels while pick 215 became Harold Perkins Jr.
Even if Sydney Brown (who is in a contract year) isn't back next year, at least this trade is the reason Cunningham hit on not one, but two draft picks.
2. Falcons trade S Jessie Bates to Jacksonville
Speaking of Jessie Bates, the trade where the Falcons sent him to the Jaguars on Monday morning was a masterclass from Ian Cunningham. Atlanta got a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick out of a player who they weren't going too extend and likely wouldn't be next season.
This choice was a no-brainer. Cunningham was presented with a Godfather offer for a near 30-year-old in a contract year who plays a non-premium position. But having the foresight to recognize they wouldn't get a comp pick out of him like with Neuzil because of their available cap space was genius.
Although we don't know what this pick will become yet or how it'll play out like with the Neuzil trade, taking on a little bit of extra money to get more in a trade could prove major, as the Falcons now have three picks in the first two rounds of the 2027 Draft and eight picks in total.
For a GM that loves draft capital and a team that's looking to keep building through the draft and lacked draft capital in his first draft, that's exactly what should be done.
1. Falcons acquire DL Gervon Dexter Sr. from Chicago
As if there was ever any doubt for which trade has aged the best, it has to be Gervon Dexter Sr. All the Falcons gave up to get him was Clark Phillips III (a cornerback who was about to get cut) and a fifth-round pick, yet Dexter has turned out to be the best player on Atlanta's defensive line this season.
Cunningham helped draft Dexter in Chicago, and knew his 6-fofoott-6, 326-pound frame would be a much better fit in Jeff Ulbrich's system up front than Dennis Allen's--and he was right. He's near the top of the NFL in pressures (10) and pressure rate, and has made an elite duo with Brandon Dorlus.
He's been so impressive this season that they already signed him to a four-year, $78 million contract extension, so given he's only 25, the Atlanta Falcons may have found a long-term cornerstone on the defensive line.
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