Falcons Expected To Be Most Aggressive Team In Draft

Chris Mortensen said Monday on ESPN that the Falcons are expected to be the most aggressive team in this year’s draft and could make an effort to trade up as high as the top-5 for a defensive player.

ESPN’s @mortreport speculating that #Falcons could be most aggressive team in the draft, move up into top-5 for CB. pic.twitter.com/XHQeBkakpX

— Evan Birchfield (@EvanBirchfield) April 20, 2020

Numerous reports have said Atlanta is a trade candidate to watch on Thursday with Florida CB C.J. Henderson being a name to watch. In fact, the Falcons a video interview with Henderson in recent weeks, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN. 

Cornerback is a clear area of need for the Falcons after they made the decision to release Desmond Trufant last month. 

Peter King mentioned earlier that the Falcons’ interest in trading up for one of the top-two cornerbacks is the “worst-kept secret” in draft rooms around the NFL. Should the Falcons stay at No. 16 overall, King mentions LSU edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson as a potential fit. 

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff has also never shown himself to be shy about moving up for players he likes, most notably when Atlanta traded up for WR Julio Jones back in 2011. 

Atlanta is part of a cluster of teams looking to move up in the middle of the first round, including the Buccaneers at No. 14 and the Broncos at No. 15. 

Some teams who are reportedly open to trading down include Lions at No. 3, the Jaguars at No. 9, the Raiders at No. 12 and the 49ers at No. 13.

Some other top defensive prospects who could be in range include Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons, Auburn DT Derrick Brown and South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw. 

We’ll have more on the Falcons as the news is available.