Welcome to NFL draft week, where we longtime draftniks (or even newbies) get all worked up trying to predict what our favorite teams will do starting Thursday night in Detroit.
We’ll start with the Atlanta Falcons, then finish with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday afternoon.
Here are two paths the Falcons should consider.
1. Work the phones and find a first-round trade-back partner.
Yes, the draft is working out so that the Falcons are likely to have their pick of defensive players with the eighth overall pick, but the issue is there isn’t one who stands out head and shoulders above the others. This leads to a perfect trade-back opportunity to gather more draft capital.
Not only does this give general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris more options for the week, it offers a bit of protection for whatever the NFL decides to take away from the team prior to next year’s draft for potential tampering with quarterback Kirk Cousins before signing him as a free agent in March. (The investigation is ongoing.)
› The good news is that this is a very talented and deep offensive draft, and there are a lot of teams in need of playmakers all over the first round. Two QB-needy teams that stand out are the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11 and the Denver Broncos at 12.
The Vikings have two first-round picks, and most believe they will try to package them to get inside the top five. However, they have very little draft capital after those picks, so instead of giving up both of them, Minnesota would give up No. 11 this year and a first-rounder next year for No. 8 and maybe one of Atlanta’s sixth-round picks this year.
It would be the same deal for the Broncos, minus the sixth-round pick from Atlanta (because Denver would be moving up one extra spot). Like the Vikings, this is a QB-desperate team, and desperate teams do desperate things.
With either one of these trades, the Falcons can still get one of the top edge rushers — either Dallas Turner or Laiatu Latu (my pick) — or a starting cornerback — Quinyon Mitchell or Terrion Arnold — and are well equipped to move back into the first round if they wish.
Remember, Atlanta has two third-round picks, so that extra first-rounder and a third-rounder this year would be enough to get back into the lower part of the first round to pick up a much-needed receiver — former North Murray High School and University of Georgia star Ladd McConkey, Xavier Worthy of Texas or LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. — defensive lineman or cornerback.
› Speaking of receivers, at least 18 teams have the position as one of their top three needs, according to ESPN. Three are considered elite — Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze — and at least two of them should be available at No. 8.
Maybe one of those receiver-needy teams, perhaps the Indianapolis Colts at 15 or the Jacksonville Jaguars at 17, want to throw some choice picks Atlanta’s way. Latu is likely to still be on the board, but if not, there are cornerbacks and defensive tackles ready to fill a big need.
› The Los Angeles Rams could also be a trade partner, with a move up from 19 to nab recently retired defensive tackle Aaron Donald’s replacement in either Byron Murphy or Jer’Zhan Newton. They dislike having No. 1 picks anyway, so why not part with two or three for a team ready to win?
2. Stay at No. 8 and fill a need
It may be boring, but adding Turner or Latu would be a huge step in fixing a longtime problem for the Falcons: their lack of a pass rush. It also wouldn’t hurt to add Murphy and fix the defense from the inside out.
However, if it’s excitement you crave, then let’s add one of those top three wideouts and give Cousins another weapon. Nabers joining Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson and Darnell Mooney? Yes, please.
Atlanta still has seven picks, including one in the second round and two in the third, to get defensive help. With all the offensive players expected to go in the first round — as many as 21 could be picked — there will be plenty of defensive talent left.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.