The 2020 NFL Draft is only a week away and there are expected to be plenty of trades that shake up the NFL. Among the potential move, many around the league are keeping their eye on one team to be among the most aggressive in the first round.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Atlanta Falcons are poised to make noise by trading up in the first round. The front office has done extensive work evaluating players expected to be long gone by their No. 16 overall pick and multiple teams are now projecting them to move up on draft night.
Rapoport notes that a move like the one they made in 2011, trading multiple first-round picks to land Julio Jones, is unlikely. However, a move into the top-10 picks could be a possibility. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler noted that Florida Gators cornerback CJ Henderson is a name to keep an eye on for the Falcons.
Henderson is viewed as one of the top defensive talents in the 2020 NFL Draft and could emerge as an elite cornerback at the next level. Many around the league view him as a top-10 selection, which would mean the Falcons need to move up to land him.
A deal with the Arizona Cardinals (No. 8 overall) or Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 9 overall) could be a spot to target for Atlanta. Moving up to either spot would likely require Atlanta to send its second-round pick and the No. 16 overall selection, which equates to equal value per Drafttek’s trade value chart.
The Falcons need a No. 1 cornerback after cutting Desmond Trufant this offseason. Of course, they could also use help along the defensive and at edge rusher, opening up even more possibilities if they trade up.