The Atlanta Falcons should be looking to trade down early and often in the NFL draft in order to cheaply fill out the roster. By moving back and picking up a couple of second round-picks, the team could potentially add a few starters.
With help from The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine, we came up with a scenario where the Falcons trade down a couple of times and still end up making a pick that some think they should make at No. 4 overall.
Trade 1: Sends first-round pick (No. 4 overall) to the Detroit Lions for their first-round pick (No. 7 overall) and second-round pick (No. 39 overall)
The first trade is with Detroit at pick No. 7 as the Lions look to add a wide receiver to replace free agent Kenny Golladay. They give their second-round pick to Atlanta for DeVonta Smith from Alabama. Losing out on the Heisman Trophy winner to get another second-round pick was more than worth it for the Falcons.
Trade 2: Sends first-round pick (No. 7 overall) to the San Francisco 49ers for their first-round pick (No. 12 overall) and second-round pick (No. 44 overall) and 2022 seventh-round pick
At No. 7 overall with Lance and Fields still remaining on the board, I rolled the dice that a long-term quarterback would still be there at pick 12. The Falcons trade back five more spots to pick up yet another second-round pick and a seventh in 2022.