The Atlanta Falcons are embracing a new era this offseason. After their plan around Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. didn’t yield the best results, they replaced Raheem Morris with Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach.
Moreover, they also parted ways with Cousins, instead bringing in Tua Tagovailoa to the group. But for some immediate success from this group, one analyst believes they could make a trade to add another wide receiver threat for their quarterbacks.
Atlanta Falcons Need More Offensive Firepower
After handing over the reins of the franchise to Penix, an ACL injury forced the Falcons to put Cousins under center once again. However, that turned out to be a temporary deal, as the organization moved to cleaning house.
Now, with the timeline for Penix’s recovery still in question, they have a new veteran in Tagovailoa who could hold down the fort. Add in an offensive-minded head coach in Stefanski, and the hope has to be that Atlanta can at least stay afloat.
But the current offensive room could make some upgrades. Outside of Drake London, they don’t have a proven name for that second wide receiver spot. Last year, no one apart from London ranked inside the top-100 on PFSN’s WR Impact Metric (WRi).
As a result, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports believes they need to go after Jerry Jeudy from the Cleveland Browns. In his breakdown of trades for all 16 teams in the NFC, he believed a second-round pick in this year’s draft could do the trick.
And his rationale was pretty straightforward. “New Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski knows the ups and downs of the 27-year-old Jeudy, and he knows he needs a No. 2 receiver (currently either Jahan Dotson or Olamide Zaccheaus will fill that role).”
In 2024, Jeudy signed a three-year, $52.5 million contract, and the upside of adding him is the minuscule cap hit. At a $13,480,000 cap hit for an acquiring team, it is among the most reasonable contracts for a quality wide receiver, despite his inconsistencies last season, which Vacchiano acknowledged.
“Jeudy had a terrible season last year, but in 2024, he caught 90 passes for 1,229 yards with Jameis Winston, Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Bailey Zappe throwing him the ball,” Vacchiano added. “He’d be a huge help for No. 1 WR Drake London with Tua Tagovailoa and/or Michael Penix Jr. behind center.”
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In 2024, Jeudy ranked 36th on WRi, and he could be a massive boost for the Atlanta offense.
It remains to be seen if the Falcons adopt an immediate contention window or try to build something steadily with Stefanski. But at 27, Jeudy could be a player who factors into their long-term plans if the need arises.
