The Falcons took a rough one in Week 8, but they’re still very much in the NFC South picture. Atlanta sits just a half-game behind the Panthers, and with the NFL trade deadline a week away, that’s enough reason for general manager Ian Cunningham to keep pushing for help.
Wide receiver has to be near the top of the list.
Drake London has carried a heavy load in the passing game, while Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and the rest of the room have not given Atlanta the steady support it needs. Michael Penix Jr. has shown progress, but the inconsistency is still there - and his four-interception game in rainy Tampa Bay was a reminder of that. Bringing in another weapon could help his development and give the offense a little more balance.
There are a few receivers floating around in trade chatter, and these three stand out as names Atlanta should have on the radar if it decides to buy. Josh Downs appears to be headed elsewhere, so he’s not part of the mix.
Jerry Jeudy is the cleanest fit on paper. The Cleveland Browns wideout would give Atlanta an experienced route runner who can work underneath and attack the middle of the field, which would pair nicely with London handling much of the attention outside.
Jeudy has also been coached by Kevin Stefanski before in Cleveland. The issue is cost.
Reports from Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter say the Browns are not actively shopping him and would need a premium return to part with him before the deadline. That makes him a tough get for a Falcons team with other needs to manage, and he isn’t worth what they want for him.
Brian Thomas Jr. is the most intriguing name in the group. After a breakout rookie season in 2024, when he caught 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, his situation has changed fast.
He’s now behind Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers and rookie Josh Cameron on Jacksonville’s depth chart, and his deep-threat skill set hasn’t meshed well with Liam Coen’s scheme. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that multiple league executives believe the Jaguars could explore moving Thomas before the deadline, though nothing is close to certain.
For Atlanta, the question is whether the price would be too steep for a player whose production has fallen so sharply. Even so, if Cunningham wants a move that helps now and later, Thomas is worth a hard look.
Keon Coleman is the wild card. The Buffalo Bills receiver has not had the start to his NFL career that anyone expected, and Buffalo’s trade for DJ Moore this offseason only crowded the room further.
Still, the Bills have not shown much interest in dealing the former No. 33 overall pick. Brandon Beane said in April that the team wanted to give Coleman another shot under new head coach Joe Brady, and whether that changes before the deadline remains to be seen.
Buffalo is 6-1 and looks like the favorite in the AFC, so the situation is not exactly screaming for a shakeup. If the Bills do soften their stance, Coleman could be the lower-cost swing of the three.
Jeudy brings the veteran polish, Thomas offers the biggest upside, and Coleman could be the bargain play if Buffalo decides to listen. With the NFC South still there for the taking and Penix starting to settle in, adding another dependable receiver could be a move worth making.
In Other News...
Falcons Loss Raised A Bigger Concern Than Just The Weather
The rain in Tampa made for an ugly afternoon, but the conditions only explained part of what went wrong for the Falcons. Atlanta lost to the Buccaneers in a game where the passing game never found footing, and Michael Penix Jr. struggled badly as the offense sputtered through a storm-soaked script.
The deeper concern was how thoroughly the Falcons were beaten at the line of scrimmage. Tampa Bay barely needed to throw, yet still controlled the game on the ground, piling up 324 rushing yards while Atlanta managed less than 100 of its own. For a team trying to establish a more balanced identity, that kind of gap is harder to dismiss than the weather. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Have A Tua Tagovailoa Decision Fans Didnt Expect
The Falcons are already dealing with the fallout of a significant loss, and the quarterback conversation has taken on an unexpected edge with Michael Penix Jr. now in the starting role. From Atlantas perspective, that naturally shifts the focus to how the rest of the roster is managed, especially when a name like Tua Tagovailoa enters the discussion in trade speculation.
What makes the idea even more interesting is the team on the other side of it, with Baltimore suddenly searching for help under center. The Ravens quarterback situation has been thinned by injuries, which is why a potential move involving Tagovailoa has started to surface as a possibility, even if it remains only a speculative one for now. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Fans Should Resist One Easy Kirk Cousins Overreaction
Kirk Cousins has wasted little time making Atlantas decision look more complicated in hindsight. After the Falcons signed him to a four-year deal and then moved on after two seasons, he landed with the Las Vegas Raiders and has been productive enough to keep the conversation alive around the league. For Falcons fans, it is the kind of development that naturally invites second-guessing, especially when a quarterback the team once committed to is still performing at a high level elsewhere.
But the bigger question in Atlanta is not whether Cousins can still play. It is whether the Falcons made the right long-term call by turning to Michael Penix Jr., whose early run has been uneven and included a rough outing in Week 8. Penix remains the player many around the organization view as the better bet for the future, which is why Cousins success in Las Vegas should not automatically turn into a referendum on the Falcons direction just yet. [Read more 🡒]