NFC Notes: Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Falcons

• ESPN’s Michael Rothstein notes that if the Falcons decide to hang on to WR Julio Jones, their options to create more cap space are limited. They can restructure Jones or DT Grady Jarrett. An extension is also an option for Jarrett. 
• As for potential trade partners, Rothstein identifies the Patriots, 49ers, Colts and Raiders as teams that have the cap space to absorb Jones’ contract and are contending teams with a need at receiver who wouldn’t mind taking a small gamble on a talent like Jones even if he is 32. 
• The Athletic’s Tori McElhaney lists QB Feleipe Franks, RB Javian Hawkins, S Dwayne Johnson, LB Kobe Jones, CB Marcus Murphy, G Ryan Neuzil, WR Antonio Nunn, OL Joe Sculthorpe, OT Kion Smith and LB Erroll Thompson as the 10 most likely of the Falcons’ 20 undrafted free agents to make the roster. 

Panthers

• Albert Breer reports the Panthers interviewed Eagles assistant director of player personnel Ian Cunningham and Bills director of player personnel Dan Morgan for their assistant GM opening.
• The Athletic’s Joe Person notes Morgan and Panthers GM Scott Fitterer have a close personal relationship and have worked together before, so he probably is the favorite for the job. 
• Person mentions the Bears called about trading up to No. 8 for QB Justin Fields but they weren’t offering as much as they later did to the Giants to move up, as they got more desperate as they ran out of picks to trade up into. 
• The early leaders at left tackle, according to Person, are Cam Erving and Trent Scott, with third-round OT Brady Christensen maybe having the opportunity to push them. 
• The Panthers promoted analytics intern Bennie Contrino to a full-time position on its staff. (Seth Walder) 

Saints

Saints HC Sean Payton confirmed the team was interested in trading up for a corner, specifically either South Carolina CB Jaycee Horn or Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II.

“It was pretty simple. There were a couple players that we’d move up for, but for us we have a ‘must’ at corner,” Payton said, via Pro Football Talk. “So we had two corners graded — both Horn and Surtain — with real high grades. And very quickly, early in the week, it’s pretty common for teams to say, ‘Hey, we have an interest.’ Everyone’s basically open for business.

“But ultimately, there wasn’t a team wanting to move out of the first 10 picks. And so, I think that lasted all of a half an hour maybe, the morning of reaching out to these teams. And the cost would’ve been, if we found a trade partner, too high. So at that point, our feeling was, it’s going to come to us at 28 so let’s make sure we have our cloud of players ready. And that’s exactly what happened.”

• According to Field Yates, the Eagles and Saints also put in waiver claims on Jets’ recently claimed WR Matt Cole.