Could Falcons Trade Up For Commanders 2nd Overall Draft Pick?

Do the Commanders and Falcons make sense as draft trade partners ahead of the NFL Draft?

The Atlanta Falcons are considered one of the more quarterback-needy teams in the NFL, so could that lead to a trade with the Washington Commanders for the No. 2 overall pick?

Atlanta has drafted at No. 8 overall for the past two seasons, selecting wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, but perhaps moving up in the draft is what that franchise needs to end its three-year streak of being the eighth-worst team in the NFL. Let's explore how a trade with the Commanders might look.

Would it make sense for the Atlanta Falcons to trade for the Washington Commanders' No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft? / USA Today Sports

In 2016, the Philadelphia Eagles held the No. 8 overall pick, just as the Falcons do now, and the franchise traded up for the Cleveland Browns No. 2 pick to select quarterback Carson Wentz. At the time, it required that Philly give up the No. 8 pick, the team's third and fourth-rounder that season, a first-rounder the following year, and a second-rounder two years later.

As for Washington, if the team were to accept a trade from Atlanta that reflected that of the Eagles and Browns, it would look something like...

Commanders Receive:

- No. 8 overall pick (2024)

- No. 74 overall pick (2024) 

- No. 109 overall pick (2024)

- First-round pick (2025)

- Second-round pick (2026)

Falcons Receive: 

- No. 2 overall pick (2024)

Would the trade make sense for either team, though?

NFL Mock Draft: Commanders Take Lamar Jackson-Like QB

Washington is still rebuilding its own franchise, so the team is likely to want more than Philadelphia gave up from Atlanta to neglect drafting a quarterback like LSU's Jayden Daniels or UNC's Drake Maye for itself. 

Regarding the Falcons, new head coach Raheem Morris acknowledged that the team needs a quarterback this offseason. However, based on recent rumors, the team would prefer signing a veteran like Kirk Cousins in free agency. Cousins could serve as a bridge quarterback and mentor Michigan's J.J. McCarthy if the team decides to use the No. 8 overall pick to select him. 

For now, the Commanders and Atlanta don't seem like ideal trade partners, but depending on what happens in free agency, things could change, motivating the Falcons to pursue something with Washington more aggressively.