The Falcons under Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn have done an outstanding job in the draft of creating a competitive and balanced roster filled with young talent and potential. Like all NFL teams, though, Atlanta still has holes and could stand to upgrade a few positions during the offseason. One way to do that is through trades.
While nobody is confusing the NFL with the NBA in terms of the trade activity, it can be an effective way to go after upgrades. For example, the Rams aggressively utilized trades as well as free agency to load up their Super Bowl team, dealing for both Dante Fowler and Brandin Cooks.
If the Falcons decide they want to be aggressive in the trade market this offseason, here are five potential targets.
TE Cameron Brate
Falcons tight end Austin Hooper had a great year in terms of development, earning the first Pro Bowl appearance of his career. That doesn’t mean the Falcons can’t still add an additional weapon to add depth and bolster the position for next season. Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate would be an interesting option here.
Brate has played in offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter’s scheme from his time in Tampa Bay and has been successful despite playing second-fiddle to O.J. Howard. Brate has proven to be an effective red zone option, hauling in six touchdowns in 2018. Despite a great year, the Bucs invested a lot in Howard and could be willing to part with Brate for the right price.
G Kevin Zeitler
Cleveland guards Kevin Zeitler and Joel Bitonio both bolstered the team’s offensive resurgence in 2018. Zeitler played extremely well, grading out as the No. 6 guard according to Pro Football Focus. He is entering the third year of his five-year, $60 million contract with the Browns, who may be looking to move that hefty deal as they continue get younger.
Zeitler still has a decent chunk of dead money that the Browns are stuck with either way. With an annual cap hit of over $12 million for the next three seasons, there’s still some incentive for the Browns to move Zeitler as they try to keep a talented young core together. At 28, he could be worth paying to dramatically improve one of the team’s weakest spots.
G Josh Kline
Titans guard Josh Kline got a four-year extension prior to the 2018 season when current Falcons tight ends coach Mike Mularkey was still the head coach in Tennessee. He started every game the past two seasons at right guard for an impressive Titans ground attack led by running back Derrick Henry (1,059 yards and twelve touchdowns in 2018).
Kline’s familiarity with Mularkey along with the team’s need to upgrade at the guard position make him an interesting potential fit. The Falcons still have the pieces for a potential championship run, so if they’re in win now mode, Kline could be in play.
DE Robert Quinn
Entering 2018, Atlanta looked to be loaded with talent on the edges with Vic Beasley and Takk McKinley, but they didn’t quite emerge as fans had hoped. Beasley could yet return for a bounce-back season. Even still, finding an upgrade at defensive end makes a lot of sense.
Robert Quinn is entering the final year of a two-year contract in 2019 for the Dolphins, who are looking to move to more of a 3-4 defensive scheme. Quinn’s final season has a cap hit of nearly $13 million and while he’s not the 19-sack monster he was back in his St. Louis days, Quinn (28) could be a perfect short-term upgrade who fits Dan Quinn’s defense.
EDGE Olivier Vernon
Vernon is another veteran pass rusher that would help the Falcons get back on their Super Bowl path. He played really well for the Giants last season, is just 28 years old, and could be an interesting target as New York may be on the verge of a rebuild.
The Giants let Damon “Snacks” Harrison go to Detroit for a fifth-round pick during the season, and if they decide to move on from Eli Manning, finally, they could go full selloff mode and attempt rebuild around Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. Vernon got a mega-deal before the 2016 season, worth five years and $85 million. The Falcons would have to be willing to take on the remainder of his contract, but it’d be a gutsy move that could help the team add some much-needed firepower to its pass rush.
