4. Falcons trade Devonta Freeman to the Raiders for first-round pick
This one is a bit out of left field. Sure Freeman has played a huge role in Atlanta’s offense over the past two seasons, putting up a combined 3,175 total yards and 27 touchdowns during that span. He’s also set to earn just $1.9 million in 2017, the final year of his contract.
With Tevin Coleman proving himself more than capable of shouldering a three-down load, Freeman himself could become expendable at the right price.
Add in the fact that one high-profile member of the running back’s entourage has shown displeasure with Atlanta handing out contracts to other players, and this is magnified even further. To be clear here, the husband of Freeman’s agent wouldn’t publicly question the Falcons unless there was something to this.
That’s only magnified by the fact that his agent spoke out about the need for a long-term deal leading up to February’s Super Bowl (more on that here).
If Atlanta is unwilling to offer up a long-term extension to Freeman, it makes perfect sense to move him right now. Get something in return rather than have a drama play out next March.
For the Raiders, this would just make too much sense. Recent reports suggest the team would welcome the idea of selecting Stanford product Christian McCaffrey in the first round of April’s draft. Remember, the team just lost former starter Latavius Murray to Minnesota in free agency.
If that’s the case, why not offer up this first-round pick in exchange for a running back with the same skill set as McCaffrey and who has proven himself in the NFL?
The idea of adding Freeman to the mix with Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and Cordarrelle Patterson is just too darn sexy. It would make the Raiders’ offense legitimately one of the top two in the entire NFL.
In terms of the dynamic here, the 127 receptions Freeman has put up over the past two seasons would act as yet another tremendous threat for Carr and Co.