Source: Falcons 'Working On' Trade Down in NFL Draft; Nolan, Bijan or Van Ness?
The Atlanta Falcons are in a good position going into this week's NFL Draft, but a league source tells FalconReport.com that they are "working on'' gaining a more advantageous position by trading down, maybe just a few spots, from their present perch at No. 8 in Round 1.
Speculative targets? Let's include Georgia pass-rusher Nolan Smith, Iowa defensive end Lukas Van Ness and Texas running back Bijan Robinson, with of course the goal being to slide back just a bit, add some draft capital and still get the targeted player.
With the No. 8 overall pick and potential for a number of trades early in the draft, the Falcons don't have full control of what will be available when their turn comes. In part due to that, we're told, the Falcons' discussions about swapping back are preliminary; they are putting down the groundwork for the possibility of a move and will have to react accordingly to what happens in front of them.
There's a good chance that there could be multiple players that intrigue the Falcons when No. 8 comes up, and in the easiest scenario, Atlanta simply makes its pick - and maybe Smith and Robinson and other premium talents are there for the choosing.
Or ... Smith and Robinson and other premium talents are there for the choosing and Atlanta makes the calculated move to slide down - but only far enough to still land a preferred player who might very well have been worthy of being taken at No. 8.
Example? Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney suggests the team could trade down to No. 11 with the Tennessee Titans. In the deal, the Falcons would get an additional second-round pick this year and a fourth-round pick in 2024.
"If there's a run on quarterbacks early, the Titans may be a willing trade partner to move a few spots up into the top 10 to have a shot at one of the quarterbacks before they get snatched," McElhaney writes. "This would be good news for the Falcons who should be playing a heavy hand to continue to strengthen its defensive line forces."
The Falcons and Titans are very familiar with one another and could be workable trade partners. The Falcons dealt Julio Jones to the Titans back in 2021 and coach Arthur Smith still has some of his old co-workers in the building in Tennessee.
In McElhaney's view, With those picks from the Titans, the Falcons would select Van Ness (at No. 11) and Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs (at No. 41). This scenario is a neat fit for those who believe that Van Ness (or Nolan Smith) are good enough to be taken at No. 8 but even better value at No. 11. ... while Gibbs (who obviously might not last until pick No. 41) could be just behind Bijan as a prospect.
The concept is a work in progress at this stage. But the Atlanta Falcons are putting down the foundation to make this move ... "working on'' taking full advantage of what pick No. 8 can really mean.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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