Emotional Departure: As brilliant star player for the Atlanta Falcons waves goodbye and announces his contract termination with severe allegations, tears well up across the room as he announced his…….Read more

Many fans believe that it is best for NFL teams to assemble the most diverse rosters. However, general managers and league insiders always perceive it that way. There are instances when playing to a team’s strengths is the greatest way to win.

Over the past month, the Atlanta Falcons have started to play effectively offensively. ESPN’s Seth Walder made the case on Wednesday that the Falcons might be better off adding a player before the trade deadline to improve their offense in order to have a deep postseason run.

“Defense might look like the logical spot for Atlanta to upgrade, but if you’re going to go on a deep run with Kirk Cousins — and presumably that was the point of bringing him in — you’re going to need to surround his side of the ball with talent, too,” Walder said.

Christian Kirk, a wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was suggested by the ESPN expert as a possible trade target for the Falcons. As a “upgrade” over Falcons slot receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III, Walder claimed that Kirk would provide the team with “a pretty impressive set of playmakers.”

Given Jacksonville’s 2-5 record, it stands to reason that the Jaguars would want a draft pick in exchange for Kirk. Benjamin Solak of ESPN, however, had another theory.

Zach Harrison, an edge rusher for the Falcons, was listed by Solak as a player the Jaguars ought to target before to the trade deadline. Harrison and former Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen would be reunited in such a trade.

“I guess Harrison is a good target, but the Jaguars probably won’t be acquiring anyone at this year’s trade deadline. Harrison, a 2023 third-round pick, was a good fit for Atlanta’s Ryan Nielsen defense, according to Solak. “However, Harrison has dropped to 12th place in front-seven snaps (85) for Raheem Morris’ defense now that Nielsen is in Jacksonville. The Jaguars, who have an alarmingly limited depth of edge rushers behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, probably wouldn’t pay much for him.

Regarding their two proposed trades involving the Falcons and Jaguars, Walder and Solak failed to make any connections. The Worldwide Leader in Sports, however, seemed to imply that the two teams could make a transaction involving Kirk and Harrison if a reader did. Draft selections would most likely be traded on both sides as well.

Kirk would be fantastic from the Falcons’ point of view. The Atlanta offense might reach new heights with his presence.

However, that’s a strange suggestion because it would result in the Falcons losing an edge rusher at the trade deadline in addition to not adding one. Harrison was selected in the third round only a year ago, but as Solak pointed out, the Falcons aren’t really employing him as an edge rusher this season. Additionally, he has participated in every game this season in some manner.

The Falcons might be able to acquire Kirk by trading Harrison in a package, then go back and acquire an edge rusher from another NFL team. However, the Falcons are down to just three 2025 draft selections.

The Falcons might not have the money to complete both the Kirk trade and the second deal for an edge rusher if they both require the Falcons to exchange draft picks.

Because of this, it might be best for the Falcons to deal with the roster’s greatest shortcoming. That is obviously an edge rusher. But what makes sense to Terry Fontenot, general manager of the Falcons, is the question. He has until November 5th, the NFL trade deadline, to make a decision.