The Atlanta Falcons have been aiming for the better part of the last calendar year to upgrade the pass-rush.
As the NFL Draft looms, the Falcons have been frequently linked to top pass-rushers Dallas Turner and Chop Robinson as potential fits.
Meanwhile, Atlanta tried unsuccessfully to pry Montez Sweat away from the Washington Commanders, according to league sources, ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline.
But, as the draft nears, perhaps the Falcons and Washington could finally strike a deal adding a veteran presence to Atlanta’s middling defensive line.
Could the Atlanta Falcons Trade for Jonathan Allen?
The Falcons hope to build out a defense in new head coach Raheem Morris’ image, and bolstering the interior pass rush could go a long way toward reaching that goal.
Meanwhile, in Washington, new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn could be open to adding draft capital for 2024 and 2025 in exchange for Allen, especially if they do not believe they will be able to re-sign the 29-year-old following the 2025 season.
Allen was less than thrilled by Washington’s prior regime, and it remains to be seen whether he is completely bought into the new coaching staff and direction of the organization.
Through his first seven seasons, Allen has produced 39 sacks along with 382 total tackles, while adding one interception. Allen is exactly the veteran presence the Falcons can build a defense around.
What Would an Allen Trade Look Like?
If the Falcons believe Allen can be the type of player who lifts them into the throes of the NFC playoff race, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them try to pull off a trade ahead of the draft getting underway.
Given that Washington isn’t under any financial pressure to trade Allen, thanks to being projected to have upwards of $123.9 million in cap space in 2025, the third-most in the NFL, and a window to win a Super Bowl with a rookie quarterback, the Falcons may need to pay a premium in any trade.
Atlanta Trades: 2024 Second-Round Pick (No. 43), 2024 Third-Round Pick (No. 74), 2025 Fourth-Round Pick.
Washington Trades: Jonathan Allen, 2025 Fifth-Round Pick.
Washington would add approximately $10 million against the cap by trading Allen, improve their draft positioning in 2025, and would own five picks in the first 75 selections this year to aggressively navigate the board to add talent around their choice of quarterbacks chosen with the No. 2 overall pick.
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