Russell Traded, Ridley Suspended: Should Falcons Deal for Seahawks Receivers?

Atlanta is in need of a wide receiver, and Seattle might be in a position to deal one or two talented players

Jeremy Brener | Mar 8, 2022

It's been an eventful 48 hours in the NFL, and the stars are now aligned for the Atlanta Falcons to trade for ... Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf?

Calvin Ridley

After Calvin Ridley was suspended for the 2022 season for betting on games last season and Russell Wilson was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos in one of the biggest deals in NFL history, it seemingly opens the door for Seattle receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf to be traded. And the Falcons have their door wide open in the receiver room.

The Seahawks acquired two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick in the trade for Wilson, in essence announcing the start of a rebuilding era that could turn into a fire sale of the team's top talents ... two being Metcalf and Lockett.

Metcalf has one year left on his rookie contract, and is expected to make just under $4 million before he gets a massive raise in free agency next season.

Lockett's deal is a little pricier, considering he signed an extension last April for four years, $69 million. He is set to make $16 million of that contract in 2022.

USATSI_14927726 — Dale Zanine/USA Today Sports

Russell Wilson

USATSI_17481878 — Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports

DK Metcalf

USATSI_13578945 — Dale Zanine/USA Today Sports

Tyler Lockett

So, there's two very different routes the Falcons could take if they explore a trade. They can opt for Metcalf, who could easily walk in free agency after just a year but is just a small hit for the cap. Or they can try their hand with Lockett, a proven veteran who costs a little more and is also slightly older than Metcalf.

That being said, both players would immediately give Matt Ryan a top target in the offense while also taking some attention off Kyle Pitts, who should be poised for a major breakout season in his second year. And it would force the rest of the league to take the Falcons seriously in 2022.

Published Mar 8, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.