The Atlanta Falcons were one of the most intriguing teams last season. After giving Kirk Cousins a massive four-year contract worth $180 million, they drafted Michael Penix Jr. to be their quarterback of the future in the first round of the NFL Draft.
While Penix has already taken over the starting quarterback role, Cousins and his enormous contract are still on the Falcons’ books. But rather than the obvious choice in Cousins, one analyst has a different player from Atlanta in mind as a prime trade candidate.
Atlanta Falcons Could Hand Bijan Robinson the Keys to the Franchise
Throughout the 2024 season, Cousins was up-and-down with his torn Achilles injury from the previous year limiting his production. Eventually, Penix won the starting job and is slated to remain in the spot for the 2025 season.
However, his work might be made easier with another leap from Bijan Robinson. The 2023 first-round pick had an underrated season last year, tallying 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, effectively taking over the running back position in Atlanta.
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ rushing yards for Bijan Robinson for the first time in his career! pic.twitter.com/T5HY1w6GN2
— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2024
His emergence has made Tyler Allgeier quite expendable for the Falcons, with the 2022 rookie’s production dropping in consecutive seasons. After an excellent first year where he totaled 1,035 yards, his numbers have gone down each of the last two years.
Last season, he finished with just 644 yards and three touchdowns to his credit. As a result, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report wants the Falcons to explore trading the talented running back, with an asking price of a third-round pick.
The reasoning from Sobleski is rather straightforward. “Allgeier has no incentive to sign an extension with the Falcons since he could go elsewhere and potentially become a starting option. His workhorse ability is being wasted behind Robinson.”
And for the Falcons, the production and impact Robinson has had are impossible to ignore, making him the rightful centerpiece of the franchise. A potential trade for Allgeier might work wonders for the Falcons on two levels.
First, “they would have earned a profit on Allgeier.” Additionally, “they’d build up next year’s draft capital after trading away their 2026 first-round pick to move up for edge-rusher James Pearce Jr.”
In Jase McCleellan, they have a ready-made sophomore player ready to take on a bigger load offensively. With Robinson handling the RB1 role, Allgeier is a valuable commodity that the Falcons can afford to part ways with in a league that continues to see its running back renaissance.