Falcons' Chances of Trading Up in Draft Take Hit?

With the New England Patriots likely to stand pat at No. 3 overall, the Atlanta Falcons' odds of moving up seem to be diminishing.

The NFL Draft is still two months away, but there's still an abundance of rumors out there, and the Atlanta Falcons happen to be at the center of several of them.

Currently, the Falcons hold the No. 8 overall pick, just as they have the past two years. There's enough mystery surrounding what they could do with that pick, but there's also the possibility of trading up. After all, a quarterback-needy team like Atlanta would love to add one of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels.

Feb 5, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot addresses the media as Raheem Morris is introduced as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium / Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

While the possibility of trading up is still theoretically there, one of the Falcons' potential trade partners may no longer be open for business.

According to MassLive's Mark Daniels, the New England Patriots plan to stay pat at No. 3 overall and draft their quarterback of the future. With the Chicago bears likely standing pat at No. 1 overall and the Washington Commanders not keen to move down from No. 2 overall, trading into the top three now feels like an extreme long shot for Atlanta.

Granted, it was always a long shot to trade up and the Falcons could still trade up with another team, such as the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 overall. However, fans shouldn't hold their breath.

Falcons Trade Up for LSU's Daniels in New Mock Draft

With the top three quarterback prospects likely off the table, the Falcons will likely have to look elsewhere to find a new signal-caller. Whether it's trading with the Bears for Justin Fields, signing Kirk Cousins in free agency or yet another option, general manager Terry Fontenot and co. likely have numerous backup plans in place.