With the trade deadline just days away, the Falcons are sitting in a tricky spot. They can push in and buy, they can strip things down, or they can do nothing at all. At the moment, all three paths still seem to be in play.
That uncertainty lands squarely on Ian Cunningham, who is about to navigate his first deadline as Atlanta’s general manager. The Falcons are only a half-game behind the NFC South lead, and Cunningham has already shown he’s not shy about making a deal when the right one comes along. Since taking over in January, he has already completed four trades.
A lot of those moves have come through familiar channels. Cunningham has worked with or under several current general managers during his time with the Ravens, Eagles, and Bears, including Eric DeCosta, Howie Roseman, and Ryan Poles. That network matters now, especially with Philadelphia looking like a team that could be headed toward a deadline fire-sale.
Cunningham and Roseman have already done business once since Cunningham arrived in Atlanta. That deal sent Sydney Brown to the Falcons and helped Atlanta land both Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr., a move that clearly worked out well for the Dirty Birds. So if these two reconnect again, there are a few names that make sense.
The biggest need is obvious: receiver help. Behind Drake London and Jahan Dotson, Atlanta’s depth chart gets thin fast.
Zachariah Branch is dealing with a hamstring injury, Olamide Zaccheus has been unplayable, and Chris Blair is a practice-squad caliber WR. The Falcons need another downfield threat for Michael Penix Jr., and Marquise "Hollywood' Brown fits that mold.
Brown would give Atlanta another speed element defenses have to respect, and he brings a more varied route tree than Dotson. That would make him a logical WR3 or slot option until Branch is ready to take over.
Brown is 29, and while he may not have the same burst he once did, he still profiles as a useful complementary piece when the ball comes his way. He has caught just four passes for 47 yards this season, which makes him look available and likely affordable.
A low Day 3 pick could be enough to get something done.
If Cunningham wants to swing bigger, the secondary is another area to attack. The cornerback room has been a problem all season.
A.J. Terrell has regressed, Mike Hughes has no business seeing the field much, and outside of Avieon Terrell and maybe Billy Bowman Jr., there aren’t many long-term answers there.
That’s where Riq Woolen enters the picture. He’s set to hit free agency after the season and, with nearly 60 career PBUs, he may be the best defensive back on the market.
But the warning signs are real. Woolen is tied for first among all cornerbacks with seven penalties, and he has allowed a 107.2 passer rating when targeted this season.
Even so, his size, speed, and tackling ability give Atlanta a chance to get him back on track.
He’s expected to draw interest from contenders like the Lions and Bills, so the price matters. If the cost is only a Day 3 pick, the Falcons should jump. Just not at any price.
There’s also a more modest cornerback option in C.J. Henderson.
He has been one of the more interesting players on the Atlanta roster this season, because he’s finally looked like someone worthy of his former top-10 draft status. Even so, his future is murky with rookie Avieon Terrell likely on track to become the main starter on the outside next to his brother.
Henderson has been a welcome surprise, but he’s also set to be a free agent after the season, and one of him or Mike Hughes is expendable. Either could fit this discussion, but Henderson’s age and coverage ability could make him the more appealing piece for Roseman.
Philadelphia could use help in the secondary as well, with Woolen a liability and likely gone next season, Cooper DeJean struggling in the slot, and Quinyon Mitchell not getting much help on the back end. That could make Henderson a logical target if the Eagles want to keep trying to revive a promising young corner’s career.
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Now comes a different kind of test, and potentially a cleaner chance for Penix to reset the conversation around his play. Cincinnati does not present the same blitz-heavy challenge Tampa Bay did, and the matchup should give Atlanta a better read on how Penix handles a defense built more around man coverage than constant pressure, which is the sort of look that can tell a lot about where his comfort level really is. [Read more 🡒]