The Falcons are in seller mode, and that puts Tua Tagovailoa right into the middle of the deadline conversation.
Atlanta already moved Jessie Bates to Jacksonville for a 2027 second-rounder and a 2028 fifth, and with just a couple of hours left before the 4:00 p.m. ET trade deadline, Ian Cunningham is expected to keep working the phones for more draft capital. Another deal could still be coming, with Mike Hughes and Divine Deablo mentioned as possibilities, but Tagovailoa is the name that keeps popping up.
Minnesota is the team to watch. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Vikings are making calls about a quarterback before the deadline, and that search makes sense given how the market could play out.
The Colts may not budge on Daniel Jones, the Jets may hold firm on Geno Smith, and the Raiders may not want to part with Kirk Cousins. That could leave the Vikings looking elsewhere.
And they need help badly. The 6-2 Vikings have dropped two straight, and according to SumerSports, only the 0-8 Los Angeles Chargers have a worse offensive EPA per play.
The strange part is that this isn’t about a lack of talent around the quarterback. It’s been quarterback play that has been near the bottom of the league all season, and it’s wasting a defense that leads the NFL in defensive EPA success rate.
Last night’s 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills only sharpened that problem. Kyler Murray sat out with a hamstring injury, Carson Wentz got the start, and the results were rough: eight completions on 25 attempts, two interceptions, and an 8.9 passer rating before Max Brosmer took over.
That’s why Tagovailoa starts to make sense. The demand for a quarterback in his range hasn’t really shown up, but Minnesota is desperate enough for competent play that it could be willing to take the swing.
Kevin O’Connell would also have the kind of offensive mind that could work around Tagovailoa’s flaws, much like Mike McDaniel did in Miami. And compared with Cousins or Jones, the Vikings wouldn’t need to empty the bank to get him.
There is a wrinkle, though. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was the head coach in Miami when Tagovailoa was drafted, but the two reportedly didn’t have the strongest relationship. That could make it harder to get both sides aligned on a deal.
Even so, Atlanta doesn’t appear to be asking for much. Nolan Teasley joked that he could offer half a Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich and Ian Cunningham would think about it. More seriously, the Falcons probably aren’t planning to bring Tagovailoa back in the offseason, and he may not even be the backup anymore after they signed Andy Dalton because they didn’t trust Tagovailoa to stay healthy and back up Michael Penix Jr. after never getting a shot to start.
If the Falcons can get even a modest return - something like a 6-7 swap in 2028 - that may be enough. Any trade value beats the alternative, especially if the next step becomes a real conversation about cutting him.
Minnesota’s urgency is what makes this worth watching. The Vikings need someone who can steady the offense, and Tagovailoa has shown in Miami that he can at least keep things moving. He’s better than Wentz and Max Brosmer, and if the Vikings are this desperate, Atlanta has a chance to take advantage.
In Other News...
Giants Deadline Aggression Was Bigger Than Fans Realized
The trade deadline chatter around New York was not limited to its own roster, and one of the more surprising calls reportedly reached Atlanta. The Giants were said to have explored a deal for Bijan Robinson, a sign of just how aggressively they were searching for help before the deadline and how highly they viewed the Falcons running back.
From Atlantas side, the idea never really had much traction. Robinson is seen as a franchise cornerstone, and the Falcons recently locked him in with a new deal, making any move for him a long shot from the start. With New York also pulling back from its pursuit of Jonathan Taylor, the Giants appear set to move forward with what they have, while Atlanta continues building around one of its most important offensive pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Fans Will Want To Know How Far This Bijan Pursuit Went
The Giants spent the 2026 NFL trade deadline exploring ways to shake up their roster, but they came away empty-handed after failing to complete any deals. Among the names they reportedly checked on were Jeffery Simmons, Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson, a sign they were at least kicking the tires on a major move before deciding to stand pat.
For Falcons fans, the Robinson mention is the one worth filing away. Atlanta has treated him like a centerpiece since handing him a three-year extension worth up to $75 million this offseason, and the fact that his name surfaced in deadline chatter only underscores how much league-wide interest there is in the running back. For now, the Giants will keep moving forward with Cam Skattebo in the backfield, while the Falcons can at least take note of how far the pursuit apparently went. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Changed Their Offensive Line Plan In A Big Way
The Falcons have altered the middle of their offensive line in a notable way, moving on from Ryan Neuzil after he spent the past two seasons as their full-time starting center. In return, Atlanta added guard Andrew Vorhees, a player who has already logged 22 starts for Baltimore since entering the league in 2023, along with a 2028 sixth-round draft pick.
The deal leaves a clear opening at center, and Corey Levin now appears to be in line for the first real chance to step into that role. For a line that has been trying to settle itself, this is a significant shift in the plan, with Atlanta betting on a different mix up front as it reshapes the interior around Vorhees and whatever comes next at center. [Read more 🡒]